iWorld
Comcast’s new offer trumps Fox’s $32.5bn to acquire Sky
MUMBAI: The conflicting parties in bidding war to acquire Sky are leaving no stones unturned. Following the $32.5 billion offer from Rupert Murdoch’s 21st Century Fox, US cable giant Comcast also increased its offer valuing Sky at $34 billion. European pay TV group Sky with 20 million subscribers is a lucrative option for both the firms to extend their business in a Netflix-Amazon era.
On Wednesday, Fox increased its offer price to buy 61 per cent of Sky putting pressure on Comcast Corporation. It raised the offer to £24.5 billion ($32.5 billion) topping an earlier offer from Comcast.
Financial Times reported, Sky’s independent committee said Fox’s new bid “represents a substantial increase in value relative to the Comcast offer.” Along with that, it would “unanimously recommend” the offer to Sky shareholders.
The regulatory approval for Fox’s deal may come this week while Comcast already received approval from the British government. Fox has been waiting long for the approval to buy the 61 per cent of Sky it does not own already. To resolve the concerns that Fox may create a monopoly in the market, Fox agreed to sell the Sky News operation to Disney once the deal is complete. However, now even if the approval comes Fox needs to raise its offer.
However, the deal is part of a wider battle between Comcast and Disney for control of prized entertainment assets owned by Fox. The tug-of-war includes movie studios, cable channels, National Geographic and a 30 pee cent stake in video website Hulu, as well as Star India.
Gaming
Nodwin Gaming partners with Runestone for esports data and integrity solutions
South Asian esports leader joins forces with Czech tech firm to enhance tournament operations.
MUMBAI: Nodwin Gaming has just levelled up its game by bringing in a specialist to keep the scoreboard honest and the fans fully engaged. The leading South Asian esports and gaming company has announced a strategic partnership with Runestone, a Prague-headquartered esports technology firm specialising in real-time data and engagement solutions for tournament organisers and publishers.
The collaboration aims to strengthen competitive integrity, improve operational oversight, and deliver more interactive viewing experiences across Nodwin’s properties. It will initially focus on the Nodwin Clutch Series for Counter-Strike 2, a Tier 2 tournament that provides emerging teams with consistent competitive opportunities and helps build the talent pipeline.
The latest edition of the series recently concluded with Big defeating ECSTATIC 2–1 in the grand final of the $50,000 online event.
Nodwin Gaming chief business officer at MENA and global head of data monetization Teemu Koski said, “Integrity and transparency are fundamental to sustainable esports ecosystems, especially in Tier 2 competition where the next generation of talent emerges. Runestone’s expertise complements our experience in building scalable esports IPs.”
Runestone head of partnerships Michael Schwartz added, “Nodwin Gaming has built one of the most dynamic esports ecosystems across emerging markets. We’re thrilled to collaborate on supporting tournaments with greater transparency, deeper fan interaction, and scalable tools.”
Both companies are exploring opportunities to extend the partnership across additional titles, including mobile-first competitive ecosystems, and to develop new products for publishers, tournament operators, and event promoters.
In the rapidly growing world of esports, where fair play and fan excitement are equally crucial, Nodwin Gaming and Runestone are teaming up to ensure every match is not only competitive but also transparent and engaging. This alliance could well become a game-changer for Tier 2 tournaments across South Asia and beyond.
