Without any need to consult Telstra, Kerry Stokes or James Packer, the trio that together own 75% of Foxtel, Rupert was able to poach the well-regarded Foxtel CEO Kim Williams to take News Ltd in a different direction.
Rupert Murdoch
@BigHarto’s resignation letter: I implore you to honour my legacy
When Rupert handed me my letter of resignation to sign yesterday, he said that my decision came as no surprise to him.
Williams, sans boys’ club machismo, breaks News Ltd mould
Kim Williams’ elevation will bring some changes, and alter key dynamics in Australia’s largest newspaper publisher.
Crikey Says: Rupert’s going to live forever
New blood was one of the reasons cited for News Ltd CEO John Hartigan’s departure to make room for Foxtel’s Kim Williams, a man with a very different management style more suited to take on the challenges of the digital area.
Farewell Big Harto: News Ltd CEO John Hartigan resigns
Rupert Murdoch has delivered a savage verdict on the health of his Australian operation, with veteran News Ltd CEO John Hartigan stepping aside and Rupert taking the company’s chairmanship for himself.
Forget new media diversity, the internet has tightened News’ squirrel grip
If TV and radio news constitute two pillars of Australia’s daily news cycle, then the third is represented not by newspapers or the internet, but by News Limited.
Media briefs: Onya Rupe … The West kills Frazier … Age plays ladyboy card …
In today’s Media Briefs: Onya Rupe, for a generous ‘gift of love’ … Ludlam and the News-employed Marxist … It’s OK, Gillard’s not a head of state and more …
Mayne: News Ltd launches pre-emptive attack on Finkelstein inquiry
News Ltd is working hard to discredit the Finkelstein media inquiry before it has even begun public hearings in Melbourne tomorrow.
Sun’s past sins put James Murdoch in the firing line
On the eve of his second appearance before a British parliamentary committee on Thursday night, Australian time, James Murdoch has two new bits of contention to deal with.
Political snippets: All key inflation indicators point downwards
The inflationary crisis seems to have passed Australia by with the key measurements that influence the Reserve Bank when it comes to fixing interest rates all pointing downwards.
Record protests as News Corp shareholders get rankings dead right
The News Corporation votes are in and the record protest votes have duly been delivered. Records were smashed with as much as 80% of the independent shareholders voting to remove the Murdoch boys.
News Corp AGM: no doddery old men, or foam pies
Rupert Murdoch was pretty fast and combative, much better than the doddery old man at the parliamentary committee.
The most dramatic News Corp AGM since Maxwell came to town
For those Australians who like to rise early, set the alarm for 4am on Saturday and then go here to register for the webcast of what should be a cracking 2011 News Corporation AGM.
Media briefs: Politics of subtitling … Murdoch v Murdoch …
The politics of subtitling … Rugby World Cup letter of the Day … In rift between Murdochs, heir becomes less apparent … Phone hacking: News International lawyer says he knew its “rogue reporter” defence was wrong and more …
Political snippets: Queen’s solicitors knew the News of the World was lying
That was a suggested headline by a British Labour MP overnight as he questioned a solicitor who as well as acting for Her Majesty had done some work for News International.
Hun comments reveal: News Corp 4th worst performer in ASX50
The short-term performance of News Corp might look OK, but a longer-term horizon tells a very different story.
Media briefs: Walkley Awards … breakfast with Piers … Rupert returns to Oz …
A hearty congratulations to those nominated for Walkley awards, journalism’s highest honour, announced at simulcast union-funded drinks last night in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Plus other media news of the day.
Should the Murdochs be allowed to expand their Australian power?
The Australian’s media commentator Mark Day scored a big scoop today on the ongoing bureaucratic support for Sky News to replace the ABC as the vehicle for the Australian Television contract.
Political snippets: An opportunity missed.
If the Labor Government really does believe that using Nauru to process boat people would not work as a deterrent to people smugglers then why the hell didn’t it agree with Tony Abbott’s proposed legislative amendment?
Crikey Says: Another wheel falls off Murdoch train wreck
Should it surprise anyone that the corporate culture that produced industrial-scale phone hacking in Britain was also at work elsewhere? Hardly.
The power of Rupert: AMP wimps it on News Corp
So why did AMP, which manages $158 billion of investments, pull its punches on News Corp?
Changes in the offing at News as Rupert prepares to visit Oz?
Rupert Murdoch is due to visit Australia in the first fortnight of October.
Political snippets: The Italian PM, his procurer and Rupert Murdoch
The businessman Gianpaolo Tarantini, who was the chief recruiter of the escorts for the “bunga bunga” parties hosted by the Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, has made a startling allegation against Rupert Murdoch.
Mayne: the killer question for James Murdoch
After tipping everyone else overboard, James and Rupert Murdoch are the last two people left to take responsibility for the corruption, criminality, abuse of power and huge multi-year cover-up.
Let’s be optimistic that the Murdochcracy can be brought to heel
Another week and more dark revelations have emerged about goings on within the News Corp empire, writes David Ritter from London.
