Vodafone could bid for UK broadcaster Sky

In response to BT's proposed acquisition of the UK's largest network EE, Vodafone looks set to make a bid for UK broadcaster Sky. With the telecoms market in the UK heading towards quad-play, Vodafone needs the services offered by and has the cash to make a bid for Sky, which is valued at around £15 billion. The Sunday Express report Paolo Pescatore, a director of Analyst CCS Insight, said: "We predict that Vodafone buys Sky next year. It would give the company access to the fast-growing pay TV market. They are a good fit strategically and Vodafone has the cash. There are many synergies between the two companies and each offers an area of quad-play where the other is lacking a presence; Vodafone is a leader in mobile whilst Sky offers the TV, Broadband and Landline offering that is missing from Big Red's portfolio. The move would seem quite likely given the current close partnership between the two companies. Vodafone currently offer Sky's digital services (including Sky Sports Mobile TV and NOW TV) as part of its pay monthly contracts whilst Sky is leasing a small amount of bandwidth from Vodafone to offer mobile services to some of its selected customers. The European Market ...

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