Disney is said to have resumed talks to buy parts of Fox

New York

THE Walt Disney Co has resumed talks with Twenty-First Century Fox about buying at least part of the company, as Fox weighs whether to shrink its empire, two people briefed on the matter said on Saturday.

Fox is still in talks with Comcast about a potential deal, added these people, who were not authorised to speak publicly about the negotiations. The Murdoch family, which controls Fox, is expected to make a decision about whether to pursue a sale by the end of the year, one person added.

The return of Disney, which held talks with Fox earlier this year, highlights how media companies are increasingly seeking to compete in a new era of streaming by getting bigger and acquiring more content. It also leaves medium-sized players such as Fox to decide whether they can buy the scale they need - or sell and focus on particular business niches.…