LONDON, July 9 (UPI) -- British officials said petitions were pouring in to block News Corp.'s attempt to buy British Sky Broadcasting, putting a deal in jeopardy.
The Ministry of Culture said it had received 156,000 individual petitions concerning the purchase of the pay-television firm. In addition, watchdog agency Avaaz said it had 375,000 signatures on a petition opposing the deal, The New York Times reported Saturday.
The ministry said it would "take some time" to review all of the comments.
With the deal in jeopardy, BskyB stock prices dropped 7 percent in the week. News Corp., meanwhile, said Thursday it would close its tabloid newspaper News Of the World with a final edition Sunday after reports surfaced that it was hacking phones of thousands of people.
Prime Minister David Cameron said two investigations would be launched into the newspaper's phone hacking.
