BSkyB/News Corp merger: Wait for the cops, says Ofcom

Fantastic.

So they're going to proceed on the assumption that everything's hunky-dory and not even consider delaying the takeover unless and until the rozzers (because they've been SO reliable) decide that something untoward has happened. The bang you just heard was a stable door being determinedly and firmly closed after a finding that the horse had indeed bolted.

This sentence...

"we then have an ongoing duty in relation to the fit-and-proper test that is not linked to any particular event, merger or transaction. "

I almost choked on my cornflakes reading this. If you don't link a fit-and-proper test to a particular event like this scandal, what on Earth is the point of the fit-and-proper test?

While pay-TV and print media are not directly linked, the owner is the same company, person and ultimately the same bossman in charge. They have to linked together.

Am I missing something here?

Ofcom are wrong

In the debate currently on-going in the House of Commons it was just established that Ofcom can intervene in the application for a broadcast license at any time if they have evidence or believe that the organisation or person making the application is not of good standing.

Ofcom just needs to grow a pair and tell Murdoch to get lost,

People get what they deserve

I don't read tabloids, and certainly none of News Corps' bog-rolls. I don't watch Sky, or Sky News.

More fool those who do.

What about Public Interest?

So what if there's an ongoing investigation by the Old Bill? This debacle has forced the issue firmly into the public domain and it seems our interests, which obviously pale in comparison to those directly affected, as "Joe Public" ought to carry some weight.

The obvious, yes that's really subjective, outcome of a BSkyB takeover by News Corpse will be the creation of a British version of Faux News and as such it should really be subjected to the highest/deepest/most stringent of all examinations (bend over Murdoch, I'm a fully untrained veterinary proctologist).

There was more I wanted to add but I've burned-out some of my ire now; oh the joys of the cathartic nature of posting at El Reg.

I had to use troll as I know someone will have a go - not that I intend that at all; just venting my spleen.

Freeze

The whole thing should be frozen pending results of the investigation.

Waiting might be funnier

Actually waiting until the takeover goes through and then saying that the News International and the Murdoch's are not fit and proper people to own UK TV channels and that they have to sell all the Sky channels and every other channel they operate would be much amusing.

Ofcom will never actually do it though (SHAME).

What about...

..all the people not complaining about NotW hacking their voice-mail because the hacks have got leverage due to some particularly embarrassing/career ruinous info obtained.

Speaking hypothetically of course, but if they (The NotW) are prepared to turn a blind eye to illegal investigative methods why assume that they would refrain from resorting to blackmail to cover their arses.

Isn't the plod originally in charge of the investigation now a columnist for News Corp (or am I mistaken)

Incredible, the Ofcom boss is using blatant procrastination as a reason for doing nothing?!

The Ofcom boss is showing he is using full on Passive–aggressive behaviour because ultimately he has no intention of blocking Murdoch in any way what so ever. Not even an investigation.

Ofcom boss: "then we’ll look at it, if we need to,”

Yes right, you'll look at it if you need to. Why not look at it now and then decided if you need to block it? But no, lets sit around doing nothing, whilst the merger goes through. :(

A good description of a Passive–aggressive behaviour is "procrastination, stubbornness, resentment, sullenness, or deliberate/repeated failure to accomplish requested tasks for which one is (often explicitly) responsible." ... which is exactly what the Ofcom boss is doing. His blatant procrastination shows he has no intention of looking into or doing anything about Murdoch's plans.

So Ofcom are just procrastinating whilst waiting for the merger to go through, then later they can say, well its too late now to stop the merger, as its already happened. The Ofcom boss shows he has already decided its going through (he is just a two faced Passive–aggressive who won't truly admit that is what he is really doing), because he shows he has no intention of doing anything about it. Not even looking into it.

As Ofcom have no intention of even looking into it, then Ofcom has proved its totally useless, because its suppose to look into these kind of deals, so Ofcom needs to be shut down and replaced and the boss needs to be fired now. Ofcom show they have become too corrupt and complacent. They are not doing their job and they show they have no intention of doing their job.

I find the blatant display of procrastination astounding. :(

Well well, the corruption does on and up

Sitting very uncomforably on Mr Camerons tandum's crossbar are we Mr Richards?

Hoping he or Rebekah Wade will rub your bottom better are we ? forgetting you need to be a Met policeman have your crack cushioned with a big fat wad, but your only a ... are we?

Seriously How can the regulator stand back and do nothing ?

well Mr Ed Richards ? Are you "a fit and proper person" to be heading Ofcom ?

It pretty apparent that Murdoc's bought Camamoron and Jeremy Hunt the one really doing the peddling, who's obvious insurance policy (incase of failed re-election) is a job @ a NewsInternational-holding company, somewhere.

THIS WHOLE THING STINKS and SHOULD BE BLOCKED until the outcome of the investigations/court hearings and the public enquires have been concluded.

But we all know Ofcom doesnt have any teeth - all the better to give vested interests quallity BJ's.

OFUseless

This shouldn’t be a surprise.

When was the last time you heard of any of the OF organisations doing absolutely ANYTHING useful or sensible?

They’re toothless, pointless wastes of space who simply wave big business through at the expense of the consumer every single time.

What’s that? Want to create a monopoly? Yeah why not. Put water prices up again? 20% increase? Sure! Cartel activities? I didn’t hear anything honest *wink wink nudge nudge*