European expansion: Comcast on track to acquire British broadcaster Sky

Last week, as Comcast CEO Brian Roberts led a pool of reporters through the company’s new skyscraper in Center City, he listed the products and services offered by the corporation in no particular order: broadband access, wireless phone service, theme parks.

“I’m excited that Comcast is behind products and services that people take to heart,” Roberts said.

Add to that shopping list the broadband and TV services of British broadcaster Sky, which Comcast is on track to acquire after entering the winning bid before the British Takeover Panel.

On Saturday, the U.K.’s regulatory body announced Comcast as the winner of a bidding war against Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox for control of the publicly-traded British company, founded in 1989.

“This is a great day for Comcast,” Roberts said in a prepared statement published Saturday. “Sky is a wonderful company with a great platform, tremendous brand, and accomplished management team. This acquisition will allow us to quickly, efficiently and meaningfully increase our customer base and expand internationally.”