The British government says it is referring News Corp.'s bid for British Sky Broadcasting to competition authorities for a review.
That announcement Monday from Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt means that the bid will likely be put on hold for several months.
The decision follows News Corp.'s withdrawal of a promise to spin off Sky News, which had been a condition for taking full control of the broadcaster, in which it already owns 39 percent.
Britain's Competition Commission now must hold a full-scale inquiry into whether the takeover would break anti-monopoly laws.
