Disney Spells It Out: Fox Might Not Increase Its Bid for Sky

For the first time, Walt Disney Co. spelled out for investors that 21st Century Fox Inc. may choose not to increase its takeover offer for British broadcaster Sky Plc. The revelation boosted speculation that Disney and Comcast Corp. may carve up Rupert Murdoch’s media empire, with Comcast possibly taking control of U.K. pay-TV operator Sky while Disney acquires Fox’s media assets. “There’s a perfectly logical scenario where Disney gets Fox and now Comcast gets Sky, simply because the consequences of paying a huge amount for companies are very unpleasant,” said Claire Enders, founder of media research firm Enders Analysis, by phone.