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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| BSkyB seeks to combine with Sky in Italy and Germany | BSkyB seeks to combine with Sky in Italy and Germany |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| BSkyB has confirmed its interest in buying Sky broadcasting companies in Germany and Italy, which are majority owned by 21st Century Fox. | BSkyB has confirmed its interest in buying Sky broadcasting companies in Germany and Italy, which are majority owned by 21st Century Fox. |
| The company said the move would "have the potential to create a world-class multinational pay-TV group". | The company said the move would "have the potential to create a world-class multinational pay-TV group". |
| 21st Century Fox, which is run and majority-owned by Rupert Murdoch, also controls almost 40% of BSkyB. | 21st Century Fox, which is run and majority-owned by Rupert Murdoch, also controls almost 40% of BSkyB. |
| A statement from 21st Century Fox confirmed the approach, but said no deal had been agreed as yet. | A statement from 21st Century Fox confirmed the approach, but said no deal had been agreed as yet. |
| Italian TV company Sky Italia is wholly owned by 21st Century Fox, while 55% of its German counterpart, Sky Deutschland, is owned by the American firm. | |
| A consolidated European Sky company would have approximately 20 million subscribers in total - double the amount BSkyB currently has in the UK. | A consolidated European Sky company would have approximately 20 million subscribers in total - double the amount BSkyB currently has in the UK. |
| If the deal goes ahead, BSkyB would have to make a takeover offer to the rest of Sky Deutschland's shareholders. | If the deal goes ahead, BSkyB would have to make a takeover offer to the rest of Sky Deutschland's shareholders. |
| The merger could be subject to regulatory approval by European authorities. | |
| News Corp bid | News Corp bid |
| A bid by the Murdoch-owned News Corporation - since broken up into two companies, one of which is 21st Century Fox - to take full control of BSkyB was withdrawn in 2011, following a scandal over phone hacking at the company's UK newspaper group. | A bid by the Murdoch-owned News Corporation - since broken up into two companies, one of which is 21st Century Fox - to take full control of BSkyB was withdrawn in 2011, following a scandal over phone hacking at the company's UK newspaper group. |
| James Murdoch, who was BSkyB's chief executive at the time, has said previously that the company needs to "resolve" its European pay-TV strategy, and that having three separate firms is "not optimal". | James Murdoch, who was BSkyB's chief executive at the time, has said previously that the company needs to "resolve" its European pay-TV strategy, and that having three separate firms is "not optimal". |
| Mr Murdoch now holds an executive position at 21st Century Fox, and is now chairman of both Sky Deutschland and Sky Italia. | Mr Murdoch now holds an executive position at 21st Century Fox, and is now chairman of both Sky Deutschland and Sky Italia. |
| Shares in BSkyB fell by more than 2% on news of the potential merger. | Shares in BSkyB fell by more than 2% on news of the potential merger. |
| Media analyst Claire Enders says the exposure to Sky Italia is a concern for investors, due to the weakness of the pay-TV market in the country. | Media analyst Claire Enders says the exposure to Sky Italia is a concern for investors, due to the weakness of the pay-TV market in the country. |
| "The consumption power of the average Italian household is about the same as it was in 2000," she told the BBC. | "The consumption power of the average Italian household is about the same as it was in 2000," she told the BBC. |
| "One wouldn't cheer wildly at the opportunity to win Sky Italia." | "One wouldn't cheer wildly at the opportunity to win Sky Italia." |
| The pay-TV business is being challenged in all markets, Ms Enders added, as online services, both legal and illegal, are increasingly popular. | The pay-TV business is being challenged in all markets, Ms Enders added, as online services, both legal and illegal, are increasingly popular. |
| Analyst also say the valuation of Sky Italia critically depends on whether the company wins the rights to show the top-flight football league, Serie A, next year. | Analyst also say the valuation of Sky Italia critically depends on whether the company wins the rights to show the top-flight football league, Serie A, next year. |
| 'Preliminary' discussions | 'Preliminary' discussions |
| In a statement released on Monday, BSkyB said discussions had "not progressed beyond a preliminary stage," and that there was "no certainty" that a transaction would occur. | In a statement released on Monday, BSkyB said discussions had "not progressed beyond a preliminary stage," and that there was "no certainty" that a transaction would occur. |
| Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox said "numerous internal discussions" had taken place over the years "regarding the organisational and ownership structure of the European Sky-branded satellite platforms". | Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox said "numerous internal discussions" had taken place over the years "regarding the organisational and ownership structure of the European Sky-branded satellite platforms". |
| "From time to time, these conversations have included BSkyB. However, no agreement between the parties has ever been reached." | "From time to time, these conversations have included BSkyB. However, no agreement between the parties has ever been reached." |
| Sky Deutschland is currently valued at approximately 5.5bn euros (£4.5bn) and recently reported first-quarter revenues of 421m euros - up 16% on the year before. | |
| The precise value of Sky Italia is unknown, as it is not publicly listed. |