Sky bid a sin? Church objects to takeover…
November 22, 2010
The Church of England has joined calles for News Corp’s proposal to take full control of satellite broadcaster BSkyB to be stopped. In its submission to Ofcom, the Church said that a takeover might lead to a harmful concentration of media power. News Corp would dominate UK television and newspapers it said.
The Church’s spokesman on media issues, the Right Reverend Nigel McCulloch, Bishop of Manchester, said a News Corp in full control of BSkyB “would dominate both the television and newspaper landscape”. In his submission the bishop praised the reputation and integrity of Sky News, and said: “There would always be the potential for the exercise of subtle editorial influence, not least in the process of selecting which news items are to be covered and which left out.
“In the case…. that the bid is allowed, the public have a right to expect, at the very minimum, an assurance that the independence and editorial integrity of Sky News will be preserved.”