Comcast and Fox are having closed-door talks about a potential acquisition

Comcast Corp. is looking to buy 21st Century Fox's assets, The Wall Street Journal reports. Coverage of the potential deal gave 21st Century Fox shares a 7 percent boost in after-hours trading and gave Comcast a smaller 1 percent bump.
Comcast apparently wants to purchase some of Fox's American networks as well as international assets, including Star India and a minority stake in the European broadcaster Sky. International assets account for about 70 percent of the financial stakes in the deal. The telecommunications conglomerate may also be looking to buy Fox's movie studio, cable network, and regional sports network, CNBC reports.
Leaked deal talks come as a surprise to many analysts. Until November, Fox, owned by the Murdoch family, seemed eager to grow, angling to acquire control of Sky itself. But on Nov. 6, CNBC broke the news that Disney and Fox had held preliminary talks about Disney buying Fox's movie studio and Hulu, though those discussions have apparently simmered down. Verizon and Sony might also be throwing their hats into the ring alongside Comcast.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Elianna Spitzer is a rising junior at Brandeis University, majoring in Politics and American Studies. She is also a news editor and writer at The Brandeis Hoot. When she is not covering campus news, Elianna can be found arguing legal cases with her mock trial team.q
-
The Years at the Harold Pinter Theatre: an 'unmissable' evening
The Week Recommends Eline Arbo's 'spellbinding' adaptation of Annie Ernaux's memoir transfers to the West End
By The Week UK Published
-
The White Lotus: a delicious third helping of Mike White's toxic feast
The Week Recommends 'Wickedly funny' comedy-drama stars Jason Isaacs, Walton Goggins and Aimee Lou Wood
By The Week UK Published
-
Classic car insurance: how best to protect your vintage vehicle
The Explainer Insuring your classic car may be cheaper than you think
By Marc Shoffman, The Week UK Published
-
Trump's China tariffs start after Canada, Mexico pauses
Speed Read The president paused his tariffs on America's closest neighbors after speaking to their leaders, but his import tax on Chinese goods has taken effect
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Chinese AI chatbot's rise slams US tech stocks
Speed Read The sudden popularity of a new AI chatbot from Chinese startup DeepSeek has sent U.S. tech stocks tumbling
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US port strike averted with tentative labor deal
Speed Read The strike could have shut down major ports from Texas to Maine
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden expected to block Japanese bid for US Steel
Speed Read The president is blocking the $14 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel by Japan's Nippon Steel, citing national security concerns
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Judges block $25B Kroger-Albertsons merger
Speed Read The proposed merger between the supermarket giants was stalled when judges overseeing two separate cases blocked the deal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Rupert Murdoch loses 'Succession' court battle
Speed Read Murdoch wanted to give full control of his empire to son Lachlan, ensuring Fox News' right-wing editorial slant
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Bitcoin surges above $100k in post-election rally
Speed Read Investors are betting that the incoming Trump administration will embrace crypto
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Enron mystery: 'sick joke' or serious revival?
Speed Read 23 years after its bankruptcy filing, the Texas energy firm has announced its resurrection
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published