Andrew Neil describes Sky News offload for BSkyB deal as 'unnecessary'
Andrew Neil, former editor of The Sunday Times and founding chairman of Sky, has branded the sale of Sky News in order to agree a deal to takeover BSkyB as ‘unnecessary’.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4 this morning, following the announcement by culture secretary Jeremy Hunt to allow the takeover of BskyB by News Corporation to go ahead, Neil said that Murdoch would not have interfered and expected that Sky News would return to the News Corporation fold in time.
“It will come back,” stated Neil of the future of the future of the Satellite 24-hour news channel, adding that he did not believe that this would see ‘the end’ of Murdoch’s connection with Sky News.
"In the few years I ran Sky News Rupert Murdoch never interfered,” continued Neil.
The move to offload Sky News has been made to ensure media plurality is maintained following concern being raised by rival news organisations, with News Corporation also owning newspaper titles such as The Sun, The Times, The Sunday Time and the News of the World.
As a result of choosing to offload the loss making channel, Jeremy Hunt has agreed to allow the deal to go ahead, with only the BSkyB board now to make a decision.
Neil also made the point that it has taken Britain a long time to get three strong television news organisations - ITV, BBC and now Sky - and added that he thought this deal could jeopardise the success of Sky. "Nobody will be interested in buying the Sky News stake because they have to keep the Sky News brand. I don't see ITV wanting it for example,” Neil added.
He also likened Murdoch to an ‘Italian’ when it comes to deal making.
“The real negotiation comes when the deal is done, and this arrangement is so complex there is room for flexibility,” he explained