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CABLE WORLD STAFF
The European Commission's ruling that Vivendi and Seagram sell a 22.7% interest in BSkyB has created a headache for the European satellite TV company's parent News Corp. and its new digital arm, Sky Global.
Uncertainty among investors and analysts has grown over who would own all the shares in Sky Global after Vivendi divests its interest in BSkyB. News Corp. chairman Rupert Murdoch says Vivendi could become a partner in Sky Global by trading its assets in BSkyB for an interest in News Corp.'s satellite arm. However, such a move could prompt the EC to take a fresh look at who owns what in the European pay-TV market.
News Corp. could also purchase Vivendi's share in the British satellite TV provider outright.
Murdoch says his company continues to look for satellite TV assets in the United States and is in talks with Hughes Electronics to purchase DirecTV. News Corp. executives have also discussed taking a stake in EchoStar Communications.
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