logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2023
27m 21s

Microsoft makes new bid to unblock Call ...

Bbc World Service
About this episode
Microsoft has made a new bid to buy Call of Duty-maker Activision Blizzard in the latest twist in the tale of what would be the biggest deal of its kind in the gaming industry. Its original $69bn (£59bn) deal was blocked by UK regulators, but under the new offer Microsoft has agreed to transfer the rights to stream Activision games from the cloud to Ubisoft, ... Show More
Up next
Aug 22
Fed Chair Powell eyes September rate cut
As Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell signals a move to a rate cut in December, we find out what it means for the US economy and the financial markets. Also, friends again? Canadian PM Mark Carney calls a halt to some of the retaliatory tariffs imposed on the US. We find out wha ... Show More
26m 26s
Aug 22
All eyes on Jerome Powell’s major speech at Jackson Hole
The Federal Reserve's annual summit is happening in the scenic setting of Jackson Hole kicks into high gear on Friday, with the Fed Chair, Jerome Powell, taking centre stage. UN agencies are warning that the global workforce needs better protection from excessive heat driven by w ... Show More
27m 35s
Aug 21
How does the EU-US trade deal affect the car industry?
The EU and US clarify details of a tentative trade deal, with President Trump dropping plans for steep tariffs on cars, semi-conductors and pharmaceuticals. We get reaction from the German auto industry.We examine why a gathering of top economists and central bankers in the US is ... Show More
26m 29s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2023
Microsoft's deal to buy Activision boosted by US judge
A US court has given Microsoft the green light to buy the videogame maker Activision Blizzard in a deal worth $69bn. Microsoft said after the US win, it would focus on resolving concerns around competition in the UK. The tech giant's merger with the Call of Duty owner would be th ... Show More
50m 48s
Oct 2023
Microsoft cleared to buy Activision Blizzard
From the BBC World Service: Microsoft’s revised offer to buy Call of Duty-maker Activision Blizzard has been approved by regulators in the U.K. The Competition and Markets Authority said the deal addressed its concerns, after the watchdog blocked the original $69 billion bid in A ... Show More
8m 30s
Oct 2023
How Microsoft bagged Activision Blizzard
In the 1990s, Microsoft was seen as a tech industry bully. Once viewed as combative and ruthless in the eyes of regulators, the company underwent an image makeover in the decades since. Now, the FT’s Richard Waters explains how Microsoft’s transformation pushed their $75bn acquis ... Show More
19m 3s
May 2023
How Call of Duty became Britain's post-Brexit battleground
Microsoft has found itself in a bitter war of words with both its gaming rival Sony and the UK authorities, over a multi-billion dollar takeover bid of games developer Activision Blizzard. So what is the future of Activision Blizzard’s Call of Duty franchise on Xbox or Playstatio ... Show More
27m 9s
Nov 2022
How Will Gamers and Investors Respond to Microsoft’s Acquisition of Activision Blizzard?
In January 2022, Microsoft announced its acquisition of the video game company Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion. The deal would make Microsoft the world’s third largest video game company, but it also exposes the company to several risks. First, the all-cash deal would requi ... Show More
18m 55s
Jul 2023
Microsoft and Activision Blizzard - and Ford's latest electric car
A deadline is extended for Microsoft's multi-billion dollar takeover of the games publisher Activision Blizzard. Also - how a multi-million pound takeover of the firm behind Franco Manca and The Real Greek will affect the UK restaurant chains. And a new 2-billion-dollar agreement ... Show More
14m 40s
Jan 2022
Microsoft and the Metaverse
Microsoft announced this week that it was acquiring Activision Blizzard, the maker of video games such as Call of Duty and Candy Crush, in a deal valued at nearly $70 billion.Microsoft, the owner of Xbox, said the acquisition was a step toward gaining a foothold in the metaverse. ... Show More
23m 2s
Jan 2022
Metabucks: Microsoft offers $69 billion to buy Activision Blizzard
Microsoft just announced its intention to buy video game developer, Activision Blizzard, for almost $70 billion. This has some people speculating about Microsoft's future metaverse aspirations. 
9m 52s