News Corp (NYSE: NWS). which bought 14.5 percent of German pay-TV operator Premiere from Unitymedia in January, is steadily gaining more control, after upping its share to 19.9 percent in February. Murdoch’s company bought more shares yesterday, taking its stake to 25.01 percent - not insignificant, considering (little-known fact) News Corp only owns 39 percent of BSkyB (NYSE: BSY). Premiere has over four million TV and digital radio subscribers and operates subscription football matches. James Murdoch last week promoted Sky Italia CEO Tom Mockridge to head all NWS’ European TV ops, putting him in charge of driving the Premiere buy-up.