Comcast passes on bid for Fox assets, winnowing bidders to Disney: report

Comcast is no longer interested in pursuing a bid for most of 21st Century Fox’s assets, according to a news report.

In a statement issued to Reuters, Comcast said “when a set of assets like Fox’s becomes available, it is our responsibility to evaluate if there is a strategic fit that could benefit our company and our shareholders. That is what we tried to do and we are no longer engaged in the review of those assets. We never got the level of engagement needed to make a definitive offer.”

Comcast has not yet responded to a USA TODAY request for comment.

More: Comcast, Verizon and maybe Amazon want look at 21st Century Fox assets

Last month a source familiar with the situation told USA TODAY that the cable and entertainment giant had approached Fox and expressed interest in such assets as the Fox TV and movie studio, U.K.-based TV and Internet provider Sky and Mumbai-headquartered studio Star India.

The apparent departure of Comcast appears to leaves Walt Disney in the driver’s seat as the lone bidder for the Fox assets, in a deal that could be valued at more than $40 billion.

Comcast’s shares climbed nearly 1.5% in after-hours trading. Disney and Fox shares were little changed.

21st Century Fox is controlled by media mogul Rupert Murdoch; along with sons James and Lachlan, they own Fox, which includes the Fox TV network, Fox News and Hollywood studio 20th Century Fox.

Fox has had difficulty closing its $15 billion bid to acquire the 61% of Sky that it does not own, with U.K. regulators investigating legal suits and charges of sexual harassment and discrimination at Fox News.

Email: ebaig@usatoday.com; Follow USA TODAY Personal Tech Columnist @edbaig on Twitter