Comcast Reportedly Reviving Interest in Purchasing Fox

Disney’s plans to purchase 21st Century Fox may have some competition. Comcast is reportedly considering reviving its bid for the studio, according to The Wall Street Journal. The outlet reports that Comcast is taking on a new interest in acquiring the company depending on FOX’s release of a proxy statement with details on the planned merger with Disney, which it will file with regulators ahead of a shareholder vote on the deal.

Comcast initially put in a higher bid than Disney in the low $60 billion range, as opposed to Disney’s ultimate bid of $52.4 billion that was accepted. Fox’s turned down the Comcast bid because of to concerns that a merger with Comcast would be denied due to antitrust issues. According to WSJ though, Comcast is confident that they could structure a deal which would avoid government litigation over the deal. That structuring could include leaving regional Fox stations out of the deal.

That said, another big part of the Disney deal was that the Murdoch family would get an interest in Disney as shareholders. James Murdoch would get a position high in Disney if the deal completes. Disney declined to comment on the new report.

The deal with Disney includes 20th Century Fox, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Fox 2000, 20th Century Fox Television, FX Productions, Fox21, FX Networks, National Geographic Partners, Fox Sports Regional Networks, Fox Networks Group International, Star India and Fox’s interests in Hulu, Sky, and Endemol Shine Group. It does not include the Fox Broadcasting network and stations, Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, FS1, FS2 and Big Ten Network, which will be spun off into a newly-listed company.