Jeremy Hunt on Thursday cleared the way for the Sky takeover by approving News Corp's plan to spin off Sky News. Here are the events leading up to that decision
Early June 2010
BSkyB rejects a 675p a share offer from News Corporation for the 61% of the satellite broadcaster it does not own
15 June
Sky says an improved 700p a share offer still "significantly undervalued" the company ? about to unveil profits of nearly �1bn for the 12 months to the end of June ? but its independent directors call for talks "with the objective of achieving an agreed proposal for the mutual benefit of all shareholders"
11 October
An alliance of media companies opposed to the News Corp/Sky merger ? including BT, Channel 4 and the publishers of the Guardian, Daily Mirror, Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph ? write to business secretary Vince Cable saying the deal could have "serious and far-reaching consequences for media plurality"
3 November
News Corp notifies the European Commission of its intention to take full control of Sky
4 November
Cable issues a European intervention notice in relation to the proposed acquisition and asks Ofcom to investigate the News Corp/Sky merger's impact on media plurality
21 December
The European Commission clears the News Corp/Sky merger on competition grounds. On the same day Cable is stripped of responsibility for overseeing the merger ? which goes to the culture secretary, Jeremy Hunt ? after he is recorded telling undercover Daily Telegraph reporters he has "declared war on Mr Murdoch"
31 December
Ofcom's report on the public interest issues relating to the merger sent to Hunt
6 January 2011
Hunt meets with News Corp to set out the process he proposes to follow
7 January
Hunt writes to News Corp and Sky
10 January
Hunt meets Ofcom to seek clarification on a number of aspects of its media plurality report
13 January
Sky responds to Hunt's 7 January letter
14 January
News Corp responds to Hunt's letter
18 January
News Corp's proposal for Sky News sent to Hunt
20 January
Hunt meets News Corp again to discuss undertakings
24 January
Revised version of Sky News plan sent by News Corp
25 January
Hunt issues statement saying he considers the merger "may operate against the public interest in media plurality", based on Ofcom's evidence, and intends to refer it to the Competition Commission. But before doing this he will take more time to consider News Corp's Sky News proposal
27 January
Hunt asks the Office of Fair Trading and Ofcom to begin discussions with News Corp about the Sky News plan
11 February
OFT and Ofcom send reports on undertakings to Hunt
15 February
Hunt writes to News Corp saying that unless it amends the Sky News proposal to meet the concerns of the regulators, he will refer the merger to the Competition Commission
16 February
News Corp replies with a revised Sky News plan
17 February
Hunt writes to OFT and Ofcom asking for their advice on the revised proposal
1 March
Ofcom and OFT respond to Hunt's request
2 March
Hunt meets Ofcom and OFT to seek clarification on a number of aspects of their reports
3 March
Hunt approves News Corporation's plan to spin off Sky News, clearing the way for the Sky takeover
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/mar/03/bskyb-news-corp-merger-timeline
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