British Sky Broadcasting Group made a statement today, confirming the start of preliminary negotiations over an eventual purchase of 21st Century Fox Inc.s pay-TV assets in Germany and Italy. Mr. Rupert Murdoch has a 39% stake in the UK company, which he plans to transform into a satellite-TV giant based in Europe, while allowing his US company, 21st Century Fox Inc. will shift focus to entertainment programming. BSkyB Group, which is currently the largest pay-TV provider in the U.K., is 39% owned by Mr. Murdochs 21st Century Fox, which until June last year, was also part of the same company. As reported by the Wall Street Journal, the company said in its statement: "These discussions have not progressed beyond a preliminary stage, no agreement has been reached on terms, value or transaction structure and there is no certainty that a transaction will occur."