The more interesting question
Does Telefonica has the money to buy it in the first place? Last time I checked it had debt burden compared with an average Latin American economy with comparable debt serviceability too.
It is over six months since Telefonica tabled its bid to buy 56 per cent of Spain’s pay TV operator Canal+ from the Prisa Group on top of the 22 per cent it already owned and at last it is facing the competition probe we predicted it would at the time. The other 22 per cent owned by Mediaset, the Italian commercial broadcaster …
"Does Telefonica has the money to buy it in the first place? "
In real terms no. But with £10bn in their pocket by selling O2 to BT they could reduce the €44bn debt pile by 8% and still have £5bn to play M&A with. And as any corporate fat cat knows, M&A is much more interesting than dull stuff like just making money or paying off debt.
He "cheated" to get toe hold in UK during BSB. He cheated to acquire Italian Operators. His money has distorted UK Football and pricing to have Sky sports is predatory.
Personally I'd never watch Sky Sports even if free.
He should not be allowed to run Channels AND a Platform, one or the other.
We need a decent Europe wide probe into Murdoch's monopolistic activities. Do we want one Europe wide American owned* Satellite Pay TV company?
(*Though Australian he bought US Citizenship).
Telefonica just sold Ireland's O2 to Three and might sell UK's O2 to BT, so perhaps they can afford it.