Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

I'm not sure VM will get together with Vodafone now.

When someone on here said that Vodafone has axed their soon-to-launch tv service, I thought that was a prelude to a merger with VM, but since then, LG sold most of their European cable assets to Vodafone except VM.

As for a Comcast purchase of Canal+, I'm not so sure. Sky is the second largest broadband company in the UK, so it's obvious why Comcast is interested in that purchase, but a failing French satellite tv company is less attractive.

I didn't know the French retained the Universal Music company, so that's interesting. On that specific item, Comcast might do a deal with Vivendi, but I don't think they'll be interested in Canal+ though.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Disney and Fox have had their shareholder vote today and their merger has been approved. Disney will now swallow up the 20th Century film and tv studios, FX Networks, National Geographic channels and a host of other stuff. The merger will be completed by the first half of next year.

We wait to see whether Fox (or Disney) comes back with a higher bid for Sky now. If they do, they need to get the bid in by the 9th August.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44987650

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Whether it’s Disney or Comcast who end up acquiring the whole of Sky do people on here think both corporations will invest heavily in Sky in terms of Sports rights and Drama?

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Yes, I don't know whether I would describe such a decision as brave or foolhardy! In my book, it would be an extremely risky decision in view of growing competition from bigger players.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Both Disney and Comcast are huge companies , add Sky's reach in Europe and they become even bigger.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Yes, there is no doubt that this will put them in a better position to compete. However, they will be in competition with other very big guys. I think a lot will be at stake in future years with Premiership rights.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Just like a politician repeat so many times and someone might just believe you.:D

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

As per my above comments, Fox had to say what it was going to do in regards to its bid for Sky by this Thursday. On Tuesday, it formalised its existing bid for Sky which basically gives Fox and Disney additional time to decide whether they will put in a higher bid and they have until the end of September to decide now.

I thought as Disney submitted papers last month stating that Fox needed Disney's permission for a higher bid and the CNBC report on this, it was all over and done with and Comcast had won Sky. I've now completely changed my mind on this for this reason:

Tonight, Disney released its latest earnings report and Bob Iger (Disney's boss) at the beginning of his webcast gushed about Fox's assets he was buying including Sky. The best bit, though, came at the end of the webcast, when in reply to a question about whether Iger was going to pursue Sky or not, he said, "since it's a fluid situation and open matter, we're really not going to comment any further about it. "

Open and fluid, does not mean closed and given up. Expect either a higher Fox offer for Sky in the next six weeks, or a direct bid from Disney.

A few months ago, Iger remarked abut Sky calling it the "crown jewel" in Murdoch's empire.

I don't know who will ultimately get Sky, but if Sky is a crown jewel, it will be fought over viscously by these companies bidding for it. This ain't over yet by a long shot, in my opinion.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Access to millions of customers in Europe and a well run business what’s not to like.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Sky bid tussle to be settled by auction

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-45587233

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

Customers will just end up getting screwed. Price rises to pay for the final purchase price and other providers will just follow suit.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

That's always the case with these kind of things sadly.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

On the contrary this could be excellent news for everyone. Divorcing Sky from News International could reduce it’s political influence and increase the amount of regulation across the industry, which would only be good news for the consumer considering Sky, BT and Virgin have significant market power.

One of very few weak defences of Sky is that pension providers hold shares in them - nonsense I know in terms of how we should view an industry - but this gives a good opportunity for them to cash out.

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

It will just replace one media mogul with another.

Look at the quality of ABC News (Disney) or NBC/CNBC/MSNBC (Comcast) to see the likely future...

Re: Merged:-Comcast makes Bid for Sky
 

That is the way l see it as well.