Murdoch’s Bid Delay Spotlights Role of Little Known Activists

From David Hellier, published at Thu Sep 14 2017

When Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox launched its bid for the rest of Sky, few investors expected its progress to be held up for long. Then Avaaz, a political advocacy group little known in financial circles, got involved.

Avaaz made its name campaigning on human rights, corruption and climate change. This year it set its sights on Murdoch’s bid, which the U.K. government on Thursday referred to the Competition and Markets Authority for a wider probe.

Avaaz started its campaigning on the grounds that Murdoch companies already owned too much of the media. When cases of alleged sexual harassment and racial discrimination at Fox News in the U.S. emerged, Avaaz invited the lawyers to meet the U.K.’s media regulator Ofcom. Avaaz has kept up the pressure, bombarding Culture Secretary Karen Bradley with emails and documents, and threatening to push for a judicial review.

Bradley hasn’t said whether Avaaz affected her decision. But the CMA better brace for similar treatment.

Read more: U.K. Subjects Murdoch’s Fox to Wider Probe Over Sky Takeover