Advanced Television

21C Fox raided by EC

April 11, 2018

21st Century Fox says it is cooperating with the European Commission after officials raided its Fox Network offices in London. Competition authorities are said to have seized documents relating to sport media rights. Other companies involved in sports rights have also received what the EC called “unannounced inspections”.

“The commission has concerns that the companies involved may have violated EU anti-trust rules that prohibit cartels and restrictive business practices,” the European Commission said in a statement.

“Unannounced inspections are a preliminary step into suspected anti-competitive practices… [it] does not mean that the companies are guilty of anti-competitive behaviour, nor does it prejudge the outcome of the investigation itself”.

Fox Networks Group is an operating unit of Fox, which distributes TV and cable channels and content around the world.”Fox Networks Group is cooperating fully with the EC inspection,” a spokesman said.

21st Century Fox has agreed to sell most of its entertainment assets, including its stake in Sky, to Disney for $52.4 billion. But now Comcast has offered $31 billion for Sky. Fox’s bid for the 61 per cent of Sky it doesn’t own is currently before UK competition regulators.

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