LONDON (NYTimes) - Mr Rupert Murdoch's effort to secure an even larger presence in the international media market suffered a new setback when a British regulator provisionally rejected 21st Century Fox's bid to acquire full control of Sky, the British satellite broadcaster.

The decision announced on Tuesday was the latest blow to 21st Century Fox's bid to buy the 61 per cent of Sky it does not now own.

It could also affect his agreement last month to sell most of his entertainment empire - including his 39 per cent stake in Sky - to Walt Disney.

The regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority, said Mr Murdoch, an executive chairman of 21st Century Fox, would have too much control over Britain's media landscape if the deal for Sky were to go through.

The deal's fate is now in the hands of Britain's culture minister, Mr Matt Hancock, who must rule by May 1 on whether to let it proceed.