21st Century Fox shareholders have approved Disney's takeover of its entertainment assets, clearing a hurdle for what will be one of the biggest media tie-ups in history and bringing Disney's battle for the assets with Comcast to a close.

Investors in both Fox and Disney gave their backing to the $71bn (£54bn) deal at separate meetings on Friday. The pair expect the acquisition to complete in the first half of next year, although they still need to get approval from regulators in 14 countries and the European Union.

It will see Disney take control of Fox's television and film studios and its international business, including its 39pc stake in Sky, bringing together well-known characters such as Mickey Mouse and "The Simpsons", and the Marvel superheroes and Fox's "X-Men".

Rupert Murdoch, who controls Fox, said: "We expect the enlarged Disney and new ‘Fox’ companies will be pre-eminent in the entertainment and media industries.”

News of the approval did not shift shares in either company dramatically, and had largely been expected by the market, following Comcast's decision last week to pull out of the bidding war for the assets.