Comcast Seeks Sky Ownership in Battle for Fox Assets
- Cable giant sees similar technology at U.K. pay-TV provider
- Roberts has history of trumping competing bids at last-minute
Comcast Corp. is interested in seeking full control of Sky Plc, part of the reason it’s vigorously pursuing a deal to acquire film and TV assets from 21st Century Fox Inc. despite tough competition from rival bidder Walt Disney Co., according to a person familiar with the matter.
Fox’s international holdings, including its 39 percent stake in British pay-TV giant Sky Plc, are compelling to Comcast, said the person, who asked not to be identified discussing private information. Comcast sees Sky’s technology as superior to most other pay-TV providers in Europe, much as the U.S. cable giant’s X1 platform outshines its competitor’s set-top boxes, the person said. X1 lets subscribers search for movies and TV shows through a Netflix-like user interface and a voice-activated remote control.