Murdoch denies trying to influence UK prime ministers

London

RUPERT Murdoch said on Monday that he had never asked a British prime minister for anything, seeking to play down his influence ahead of what is likely to be a politically charged approval process for his US$14.6 billion bid for pay-TV group Sky.

The 85-year-old's Twenty-First Century Fox made a formal approach to take full control of the British-based Sky last week, reigniting a row over whether the media mogul controls too much of Britain's media and had too much sway over politicians.