Fox-Sky deal faces further delay as UK seeks more clarity

LONDON: 21st Century Fox Inc’s plan to buy pay-TV broadcaster Sky Plc was hit by a further delay as the UK ministry overseeing the deal said it needed more information after receiving feedback about the case, which is already be-hind schedule.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has asked communications regulator Ofcom to clarify some points in its original review of the £11.7 billion ($15.2 billion) deal, according to a statement posted Tuesday on the department’s website. The DCMS said comments it’s gotten raise new evidence.

The request suggests opponents of the deal have made headway persuading Culture Secretary Karen Bradley to listen to objections they’ve raised over Ofcom’s report. Bradley must decide whether to refer the deal to the Competition and Markets Authority for further review that could last six months, and if so, on what grounds. The ministry asked Ofcom to clarify parts of its report by August 25.