U.K. Media Minister to Move in Government Reshuffle (Report)

1:47 AM PDT 9/4/2012 by Georg Szalai

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Leon Neal/AFP/Getty Images

Jeremy Hunt, criticized for being too friendly with Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. in the regulatory review of its bid for full control of BSkyB, is expected to move into a different post.

LONDON - Britain's arts, media and sports minister Jeremy Hunt is expected to be moved into a different post as part of a government reshuffle, the Guardian reported.

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Hunt was in the spotlight during the Leveson Inquiry into media ethics and standards here earlier this year amid criticism that he seemed too friendly with Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. when he reviewed the conglomerate's bid for full control of pay TV giant BSkyB. He later said he had "learned my lesson" from the case.

Hunt, seen as a rising star before joining the government, was more recently lauded for contributing to the successful London 2012 Summer Olympics.

The Guardian said he could take on a new role as head of the Department for International Development.

It wasn't immediately clear who would succeed Hunt if he is moved to a new position. The paper mentioned that communications minister Ed Vaizey could be in line for the media minister role.

Meanwhile, there were questions about whether the government reshuffle would leave the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in its current form or modify its portfolio. The Guardian cited government sources as saying that the department would not be broken up.

Email: Georg.Szalai@thr.com
Twitter: @georgszalai