Murdoch control of BSkyB at risk

LONDON -- The inquiry into whether BSkyB is a "fit and proper" owner of a U.K. broadcasting license has been stepped up by local media regulator Ofcom. The Financial Times has revealed that a team, known as Project Apple, was set up in January at the regulator to scrutinize the ever-growing mountain of evidence that has emerged from such sources as the Leveson inquiry into press ethics, politicians' committees and police investigations. News Corp. owns 39% of BSkyB. In the worst case, Ofcom could revoke its U.K. broadcasting license if the company failed the "fit and proper" test.Other options open to the regulator include putting pressure on James Murdoch to stand down as chairman of the satcaster, and forcing News Corp. to scale down its stake in BSkyB, a move that would end its control of the highly profitable operator.Ofcom began preliminary inquiries into whether BSkyB was a "fit and proper" owner of a broadcasting license last summer, after phone hacking became toxic when it emerged that the cell phone belonging to murdered schoolgirl Millie Dowler had been hacked by the News of the World. The paper, owned by News Corp. off-shoot News International, was subsequently shuttered. Since July the crisis has become even more dangerous for News Corp.Recently 10 of journalists at the Sun, also owned by News International, were arrested. They are alleged to have bribed public officials. A Freedom of Information request by the FT revealed that in January the media regulator established Project Apple. The regulator will pay special attention to a report by a committee of pols on phone hacking, due to be published this spring. Both Rupert and James Murdoch, who last week ankled as executive chairman of News International, were grilled by this committee. The regulator said: "Ofcom has a duty under the U.K. Broadcasting Acts 1990 and 1996 to be satisfied that any person holding a broadcasting license is, and remains, fit and proper to do so."New evidence is still emerging from hacking and corruption allegations. Ofcom is continuing to assess the evidence, including the new and emerging evidence, that may assist it in discharging its duties."Ofcom officials are believed to be liaising with the London police teams that are investigating hacking and bribery allegations, and scrutinizing evidence given to Leveson.Reports suggest that the regulator could make a ruling on the "fit and proper" status of News Corp. ahead of the conclusion of any criminal trials. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Project X Follow up Within The Works

And Michael Bacall talks L'ensemble des Grossman...You know right now that to state we were not fans of found footage party pic Project X could be like stating that the goat had trouble from it in Jurassic Park. But audiences across water-feature apparently associated with the film, because it first showed earlier this weekend with $21 million in the box office. Now Warner Bros. has silently requested co-author Michael Bacall to begin preparing cure for any follow up. Really, Bacall continues to be brainstorming for any couple of days now, using the studio and producer Todd Phillips likely searching to get going on things should it possess a genuine hit on its hands. Because of the low quality and insufficient costly stars within the cast, it had been a significantly safer wager that lots of blockbusters.What exactly are we able to expect from Project X 2: The Pukening or Project Y (we actually don't feel they thought ahead using the title, as there's only Project Z left next unless of course you receive into even crazier subtitles)? Nobody yet knows and Bacall's not to imply. Considering that the very first movie was designed to showcase the best party and breached lots of laws and regulations in the plot, it may surely only follow by using an apocalypse...Things are open for the time being: it's not obvious if the story includes original stars Thomas Mann, Oliver Cooper or Jonathan Brown, or move onto another hard-hanging out teens. Possibly they might use a totally different direction and hang the next inside a retirement home, where everybody chimes their rockers (literally) on tainted Sanatogen.In related Bacall writing gig news, the Scott Pilgrim/ 21 Jump Street scribe has additionally spoken about his work approaching having a movie starring Cruise L'ensemble des Grossman producer character from Tropic Thunder. Despite things being awfully quiet on that spin-off front, Bacall continues to be beavering away, dealing with Cruise to craft something which would show L'ensemble des as a bit more supportive compared to blowhard cameo permitted."I felt excellent about this right from the start since i loved the smoothness,Inch Bacall informs The Hollywood Reporter. "Tom had an amazing idea regarding how to tell this story, and provide it some real emotion and heart. And the moment he hit on that idea, it had been ready to go. However I really feel good about this project, and Hopefully it'll happen."Based on Bacall, we'll receive some reason why Grossman is really an arse, by having an actual character arc this time around. "The man is a pressure of character, but you want to possess some type of emotional link with him." When can we view it? To date, Bacall could offer only he "hopes" it'll happen. So don't start queuing at the local fleapit at this time.