Britain's broadcasting watchdog will come under intense pressure in assessing whether directors of Rupert Murdoch's business empire, including son James, are fit to run UK satellite broadcaster BSkyB - a decision that could have implications for Murdoch's global operations.
Ofcom, which regulates broadcasting in Britain, has said it could consider whether directors at Murdoch's News Corp are "fit and proper" persons to run the pay-TV operator, which News Corp wants to take over, in the wake of a scandal at one of the group's UK newspapers. Previously, those looking at whether Murdoch should get the go-ahead for the multi-billion dollar deal have been focused on whether it would give him too much power over Britain's media.
The government is running that part of the process and has already agreed to the deal in principle after undertakings from News Corp that would guarantee independence for its influential Sky News channel. However, the government is still wading through submissions on Murdoch's plan to buy out the 61 percent of BSkyB his News Corp does not already own, and may not make a final decision for months.
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