https://phys.org/news/2018-09-fox-comcast-sky-auction-uk.html

Fox started the bidding war last December, when it sought to acquire the 61 percent of Sky it doesn't already own. Comcast has since offered 26 billion pounds ($34.3 billion) for Sky, topping Fox's latest bid of $24.5 billion.

The panel said it called the auction "to provide an orderly framework for the resolution of this competitive situation."