BSkyB investigation: Ofcom asks for more NI documents

Ofcom has requested further documents from News International as part of their investigation into whether BSkyB is a "fit and proper" party to hold broadcast licences in this country.

Ofcom launched the investigation last summer in the wake of revelations about phone hacking at the News of the World. A spokesman for Ofcom said the latest set of documents they had requested relate to civil litigation cases.

The spokesman added: "Ofcom is gathering evidence which may assist it in assessing whether BSkyB is and remains fit and proper to continue to hold its broadcast licences.

"As part of this ongoing assessment, Ofcom has contacted News Group Newspapers requesting documents which it understands are held by the company and which may be relevant to this assessment. BSkyB is party to this correspondence."

In his evidence to the Leveson inquiry, Rupert Murdoch admitted News Corporation had been forced to abandon their bid for the remaining BSkyB shares because of the stories about phone hacking, though denied it was the Milly Dowler story specifically which caused the bid to be abandoned.

"Well, I don't know whether we can put it down to the Milly Dowler misfortune, but the hacking scandal, yes."

He added he believed without the scandal the company's bid would have succeeded.

Free daily newsletter

If you like our news and feature articles, you can sign up to receive our free daily (Mon-Fri) email newsletter (mobile friendly).