Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation has been given government approval for its controversial takeover of BSkyB.

The green light follows News Corp's offer to spin-off Sky News as an independent company.

Broadcaster Andrew Neil, who launched Sky News, said that the deal was made to get Rupert Murdoch through a "difficult period".

"It is not the end of Rupert Murdoch's connection with Sky News," he said.

Former Sky executive David Elstein said that as a viewer he regretted that the channel was being distanced from financial security.

"The reality is that Murdoch has never tried to influence the output of Sky News," he said.

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