Britain mulls inquiry into Fox's Sky deal

Britain's Culture Minister Karen Bradley said Friday she is considering asking for a regulatory investigation into whether 21st Century Fox's multi-billion dollar takeover of Sky is ethical.

In a statement, Bradley confirmed that Sky and 21st Century Fox have now formally notified the European Commission of their intention to merge.

Under EU rules, the minister will from Monday have 10 working days to decide whether to issue a public interest intervention notice.

"I have, today, written to the parties to inform them that I am 'minded to' issue a European Intervention Notice," she said in the statement, adding that she had "concerns" about the deal.

"To be clear -? I have not taken a final decision on intervention at this stage," Bradley explained.

Both Sky and Fox had been asked to submit written representations.

If an intervention notice is issued, British media watchdog Ofcom will conduct a 40-day initial investigation into the deal.

Fox announced in December it had reached a formal agreement to buy the 61-percent stake in Sky it does not already own.

The deal, valued at $14.8 billion (14-billion-euro), would expand the footprint of the media-entertainment powerhouse owned by Rupert Murdoch.

21st Century Fox is one of the world's largest entertainment companies, with a vast portfolio of cable, broadcast, film, pay-TV and satellite assets across six continents.

Sky broadcasts the 24-hour Sky News channel, blockbuster movies and live English Premier League football, and also provides internet and telephone services.

Bradley is concerned the deal would reduce media plurality and give the Murdoch family too much control over the British media landscape.

Back in 2011, Murdoch was forced to abandon his previous takeover bid of Sky -- then known as BSkyB -- as controversy raged over the hacking of celebrities and crime victims by his tabloid the News of the World, which was subsequently shut down.