A Decision Imminent on News Corp./DirecTV?

[Gregg Lengling]

According to sources, a decision is imminent - maybe as early as today - from regulators concerning News Corp.'s proposed takeover of Hughes and DirecTV.

As expected, conditions could be tied to the deal, including remedies that address access to News Corp.-controlled programming by competitors. Cable companies and EchoStar have been lobbying for a provision that would force News Corp. and Fox to provide programming to a pay-TV provider while a carriage dispute is in arbitration.

The Federal Communications Commission has been pushing to get its review of the deal done by the end of the year.