Fox CEO James Murdoch expects Sky deal to be approved next year

James Murdoch, chief executive of Twenty-First Century Fox Inc, said on Wednesday he expects its bid to acquire Sky PLC to be approved by British regulators in the first half of 2018 despite fallout from a sexual harassment settlement involving former Fox News commentator Bill O`Reilly.

Reports recently surfaced that O`Reilly reached a $32 million settlement with a woman before Fox News renewed his contract earlier this year. O`Reilly was fired in April.

Murdoch spoke of Twenty-First Century Fox`s $15 billion bid to acquire the remaining 61 percent it does not own of Sky PLC while appearing at the Paley International Council Summit in New York.

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