Liberty Media, which went public at about $22, closed yesterday at $28.125, up 87.5 cents.

Liberty Media may be a tracking stock or an independent company.

For example, Liberty Media is trying to buy local cable companies that actually run lines from streets into individual homes.

"We're at a very sensitive point in our negotiations" with Liberty Media, he said.

Liberty Media acquired half of the network and changed the leadership.

And Liberty Media, which is also said to be joining the bid, could put up another $500 million.

Among the companies said to be in the running, only Liberty Media has been willing to comment on the bidding.

At the time of the suspected violations, Liberty Media held a 50 percent stake.

Liberty Media seemed resigned yesterday to having lost the race.

He noted that his family continued to have the bulk of its wealth in Liberty Media.