News Corporation/BSkyB merger: the timeline

Early June 2010 BSkyB rejects a 675p a share offer from News Corporation for the 61% of the satellite broadcaster it does not own 15 June Sky says an improved 700p a share offer still "significantly undervalued" the company – about to unveil profits of nearly £1bn for the 12 months to the end of June – but its independent directors call for talks "with the objective of achieving an agreed proposal for the mutual benefit of all shareholders" 11 October An alliance of media companies opposed to the News Corp/Sky merger – including BT, Channel 4 and the publishers of the Guardian, Daily Mirror, Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph – write to business secretary Vince Cable saying the deal could have "serious and far-reaching consequences for media plurality" 3 November News Corp notifies the European Commission of its intention to take full control of Sky 4 November Cable issues a European intervention notice in relation to the proposed acquisition and asks Ofcom to investigate the News Corp/Sky merger's impact on media plurality 21 December The European Commission clears the News Corp/Sky merger on competition grounds . On the same day Cable is stripped of responsibility for overseeing the merger – which goes to the culture secretary, Jeremy Hunt – after he is recorded telling undercover Daily Telegraph reporters he has "declared war on Mr Murdoch" 31 December Ofcom's report on the public interest issues relating to the merger sent to Hunt 6 January 2011 Hunt meets with News Corp to set out the process he proposes to follow 7 January Hunt writes to News Corp and Sky 10 January Hunt meets Ofcom to seek clarification on a number of aspects of its media plurality report 13 January Sky responds to Hunt's 7 January letter 14 January News Corp responds to Hunt's letter 18 January News Corp's proposal for Sky News sent to Hunt 20 January Hunt meets News Corp again to discuss undertakings 24 January Revised version of Sky News plan sent by News Corp 25 January Hunt issues statement saying he considers the merger "may operate against the public interest in media plurality" , based on Ofcom's evidence, and intends to refer it to the Competition Commission. But before doing this he will take more time to consider News Corp's Sky News proposal 27 January Hunt asks the Office of Fair Trading and Ofcom to begin discussions with News Corp about the Sky News plan 11 February OFT and Ofcom send reports on undertakings to Hunt 15 February Hunt writes to News Corp saying that unless it amends the Sky News proposal to meet the concerns of the regulators, he will refer the merger to the Competition Commission 16 February News Corp replies with a revised Sky News plan 17 February Hunt writes to OFT and Ofcom asking for their advice on the revised proposal 1 March Ofcom and OFT respond to Hunt's request 2 March Hunt meets Ofcom and OFT to seek clarification on a number of aspects of their reports 3 March Hunt approves News Corporation's plan to spin off Sky News , clearing the way for the Sky takeover