Ofcom says BSkyB 'fit and proper' but James Murdoch criticised

[dipsydoodle]

Source: BBC News

UK media regulator Ofcom has concluded that BSkyB is a "fit and proper" company to hold a broadcasting licence.

Ofcom was investigating the broadcaster in the wake of the phone hacking scandal that engulfed Rupert Murdoch's media empire, which owns 39% of BSkyB. However, Ofcom has criticised former BSkyB chairman James Murdoch, Rupert's son, for his role in the scandal.

Ofcom said his actions "repeatedly fell short of the conduct" expected of a chief executive officer and chairman.

Under the Broadcasting Act 1990, Ofcom has to ensure holders of broadcasting licences are "fit and proper".

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19658811

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Sky ruled fit for broadcast licence, but James Murdoch comes in for criticism.

BSkyB remains a fit and proper owner of broadcast licences, media regulator Ofcom has concluded.

But the regulator's report is highly critical of the company's former chairman, James Murdoch, over his handling of the phone-hacking scandal.

Ofcom criticised Murdoch, the News Corporation deputy chief operating officer and former Sky and News International chairman, for his "lack of action" over the News of the World phone-hacking affair.

The regulator found that Murdoch's conduct in relation to News Group Newspapers "repeatedly fell short of the conduct to be expected of as a chief executive and chairman" and that his lack of action in relation to phone hacking was "difficult to comprehend and ill judged".

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/sep/20/sky-broadcast-james-murdoch-criticised

Odd wording : to the best of my knowledge Sky has not got a stand alone broadcast licence. That is part of the background to their part ownership of BSkyB which replaced use of the original Luxembourg Astra set up years ago.

Ofcom clears BSkyB of links to hacking scandal.

(Reuters) - Ofcom gave pay-TV firm BSkyB a clean bill of health on Thursday, saying there was no evidence it was linked to a phone hacking scandal which engulfed Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, its largest shareholder.

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The ruling by Ofcom, which has clashed repeatedly with BSkyB in the past, will lift a cloud that had long hung over the hugely successful group and will allow it to focus on the challenges of intensifying competition and growing economic pressures on its customers.

Ofcom concluded BSkyB was "fit and proper" to hold a broadcasting licence and avoided making the most serious ruling that News Corp should sell down some of its near 40 percent holding.

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The ruling brings to an end one of the many outstanding concerns for the Murdoch family.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/09/20/uk-bskyb-ofcom-idUKBRE88J07320120920