Murdoch Family Legal Battle Could Shape the Future of Fox News

[Social Media]

 

In a courthouse in Reno, Nevada, a family feud with global ramifications is unfolding, as Rupert Murdoch, 93, seeks to ensure his eldest son, Lachlan Murdoch, succeeds him in running the vast media empire he built. At stake is control over one of the most influential news outlets in the world—Fox News—and its role in shaping political discourse, particularly in the United States.

 

Rupert Murdoch is arguing in court that Lachlan, his conservative-leaning eldest son, should be given control over the family trust's voting rights. If he succeeds, the future direction of Fox News, a major force behind Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) movement, is unlikely to change. Murdoch's argument, as reported by his own Wall Street Journal, is that “shifting voting control of the trust to Lachlan should be allowed because it is in the best interest of all the beneficiaries, including his other children.”

 

However, if Murdoch's legal maneuvering fails, his other children—James, Prudence, and Elizabeth—could wrest control of the trust and possibly change the conservative stance of Fox News. James Murdoch, in particular, has signaled a different political outlook than his father and brother. He hosted a fundraiser for Joe Biden in 2022 and has expressed support for Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, suggesting that a shift in Fox News' editorial slant might be on the horizon if he gains influence.

 

Such a change would be seismic in American politics. For the past two decades, Fox News has been a dominant voice in American conservatism, with both Republicans and Democrats recognizing its influence. Figures like Sean Hannity have become central figures in the MAGA movement, while former host Tucker Carlson, despite his exit from the network, still struggles to regain the prominence he once held within Fox’s massive audience.

 

Lachlan Murdoch’s views align closely with his father’s, maintaining a right-wing stance. But the question is whether the family’s internal power struggle will allow Fox to stay on that path. Michael Wolff, a biographer of Rupert Murdoch, captured the tension between the Murdoch sons, writing that the late Fox News chair Roger Ailes once described Lachlan and James as "wannabe little kings." Wolff added, “I think they both really believe they were put on earth to show up their father.”

 

The court case is about more than just politics, though. It hinges on corporate governance laws that allow families like the Murdochs to control companies through a dual-class stock structure, giving their shares more voting power than those of outside investors. This legal battle may shape not only the future of Fox News but also the broader media landscape in the U.S. and beyond.

 

As this family drama plays out, the world is watching to see whether Rupert Murdoch will secure his legacy through Lachlan, or if James and his sisters will shift the direction of one of the world’s most powerful media outlets.

 

Based on a report from: The Guardian 2024-09-24

 

 

 

[Tug]

Let’s hope bankruptcy and shutdown!

[Chomper Higgot]

3 hours ago, Tug said:

Let’s hope bankruptcy and shutdown!

I would be more inclined to Antitrust break up of the growing FOX Monopoly in the U.S. and prohibition of foreign ownership of news media in the UK.

 

 

[oxo1947]

3 hours ago, Tug said:

Let’s hope bankruptcy and shutdown!

 

Oh Yer , because its so good just to have one voice/ one View/ one line of reporting  in a democracy ----especially if that one voice is the one you agree with---very healthy..............

[Chomper Higgot]

1 minute ago, oxo1947 said:

 

Oh Yer , because its so good just to have one voice/ one View/ one line of reporting  in a democracy ----especially if that one voice is the one you agree with---very healthy..............

Which is more or less what the U.S. has now.

 

Rightwing FOX News and Sinclair dominating the TV and Radio news media.

[bendejo]

Very interesting that the case is in Reno, Nevada.  Sort of a mini-Vegas, about half the size of Pattaya.   Desert, casinos, horses, desert . . .

 

 

 

[oxo1947]

2 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Which is more or less what the U.S. has now.

 

Rightwing FOX News and Sinclair dominating the TV and Radio news media.

 

I thought  that there are a lot more national broadcasting networks existing. in USA....anyway The upcoming court case with the family might mean that there wont be a Fox, as it is today

---------------

 

Google-- Today, more than 50 national broadcasting networks exist. Other than the non-commercial educational (NCE) PBS, which is composed of member stations,

the largest broadcast television networks are the traditional Big Three television networks (ABC, CBS and NBC).

[Chomper Higgot]

4 minutes ago, oxo1947 said:

 

I thought  that there are a lot more national broadcasting networks existing. in USA....anyway The upcoming court case with the family might mean that there wont be a Fox, as it is today

---------------

 

Google-- Today, more than 50 national broadcasting networks exist. Other than the non-commercial educational (NCE) PBS, which is composed of member stations,

the largest broadcast television networks are the traditional Big Three television networks (ABC, CBS and NBC).

There are, but the lion’s share of TV News is FOX and Sinclair control a majority of the arguably more influential radio news stations

[MalcolmB]

Murdoch,in his quest for money, has singlehandedly caused the great division and hatred of the left versus right in GB, USA and Australia. 

He has stirred it up and convinced the gullible that they have problems that they don’t. Created unnecessary fear.

And made billions doing it.

 

And unashamedly they also use the line “you can not trust the mainstream media” of which he is. You can not trust his version of mainstream media because all he cares about is clickbait. 

[EVENKEEL]

Talk radio in Calif is mainly conservative. But as far as TV the only station that gives a conservative view point is FOX. The others are very one sided.

[jingjai9]

Murdoch, in his quest for money, has singlehandedly caused the great division and hatred of the left versus right in GB, USA and Australia. 

He has stirred it up and convinced the gullible that they have problems that they don’t. Created unnecessary fear.

And made billions doing it.

 

And unashamedly they also use the line “you can not trust the mainstream media” of which he is. You can not trust his version of mainstream media because all he cares about is clickbait. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Award winning journalist Matt Taibbi has written a great book on this topic, entitled, Hate Inc. It is widely acclaimed. It is a historical analysis of how the US media has changed through the years from 3 network news broadcasters, to cable news and onto social media and podcasting. 

Taibbi states that Fox's decision to broadcast conservative news was a business decision as stated in the opening of the post I have quoted.

[Skeptic7]

On 9/24/2024 at 8:03 AM, oxo1947 said:

 

Oh Yer , because its so good just to have one voice/ one View/ one line of reporting  in a democracy ----especially if that one voice is the one you agree with---very healthy..............

Faux "News" is a voice of predominantly lies and deception. Feeding gullible fools with dangerous BS. $787.5 million worth of BS. 🤣

If that's your feedbag, go ahead gorge yourself on that 💩❗But don't pretend it's anything close to a legit news source. 

[Yagoda]

5 minutes ago, Skeptic7 said:

Faux "News" is a voice of predominantly lies and deception. Feeding gullible fools with dangerous BS. $787.5 million worth of BS. 🤣

If that's your feedbag, go ahead gorge yourself on that 💩❗But don't pretend it's anything close to a legit news source. 

Highest rated cable network, Im sure it will be just fine.

 

Bet you have never watched it. You silly Avatar says all that folks need to know.

[Skeptic7]

3 hours ago, Yagoda said:

Highest rated cable network, Im sure it will be just fine.

 

Bet you have never watched it. You silly Avatar says all that folks need to know.

Watched it from it's founding in 1996 when it had some cred and sanity...NO Hannity. Actually liked a lot of it back then 'cuz "We Report, You Decide"  & "Fair and Balanced" actually meant something kinda real. But Faux News went totally off the rails when President Obama was elected and became..."We Report and Feed You Lies"  & "Blurred and Tarnished".

It's now an all out...

Freakin' Faux News Freak Show

Enjoy the orange kool-aid❗🤣

 

 

Edited 2 hours ago by Skeptic7

[Yagoda]

14 minutes ago, Skeptic7 said:

Watched it from it's founding in 1996 when it had some cred and sanity...NO Hannity. Actually liked a lot of it back then 'cuz "We Report, You Decide"  & "Fair and Balanced" actually meant something kinda real. But Faux News went totally off the rails when President Obama was elected and became..."We Report and Feed You Lies"  & "Blurred and Tarnished".

It's now an all out...

Freakin' Faux News Freak Show

Enjoy the orange kool-aid❗🤣

 

 

Hannity. Thats real news lol, altho far better than his competition. Go back to spewing your hate now.