History UsefulNotes / RupertMurdoch

Parodied in ''Film/FierceCreatures'', the [[SpiritualSuccessor spiritual sequel]] of ''Film/AFishCalledWanda''. Part of the inspiration for Creator/KimNewman's regular GreaterScopeVillain and probable {{Antichrist}} Derek Leech (the other parts being Richard Branson and {{Satan}}). Elliot Carver in ''Film/TomorrowNeverDies'' is similar, but actually based on Robert Maxwell. Nicknamed "The Dirty Digger" in ''Magazine/PrivateEye''. ''Series/ABitOfFryAndLaurie'' had the angel in its [[ItsAWonderfulPlot Wonderful Life]] sketch push him back off the bridge. Logan Roy in ''Series/{{Succession}}'' is a NoCelebritiesWereHarmed version of him. In the film ''Film/{{Bombshell|2019}}'' he's portrayed by Creator/MalcolmMcDowell. And [[Series/CountdownWithKeithOlbermann Keith Olbermann]] portrays him as either a {{pirate}} or [[Franchise/StarWars Emperor Palpatine]]. Arr!

Murdoch is less godlike, but still very influential, in the United States; his ownership of the Creator/FoxNewsChannel, the de facto news source for conservatives and the top-rated news channel, means that he is a trend-setter for the Republican party. ''The Wall Street Journal'', Murdoch's most recent conquest, is a bible in financial circles, a rallying place for Conservatives editorially, and a respected provider of straight news even in liberal circles, though less so since the buyout. The only tarnish is the ''New York Post'', a once-respected paper (it was founded by UsefulNotes/AlexanderHamilton) that, upon Murdoch's purchase, became that city's version of ''The Sun'' (most of its readership is said to only care about the sports section). (Oddly enough, he's tried a couple of times to break into the US satellite TV market, but the attempts failed[[note]]His first attempt was in 1990, with his planned ''Sky Cable'' operation alongside Hughes Electronics, Cablevision Systems and Creator/{{NBC}}. [[TechnologyMarchesOn The plan called for a 108-channel service with HDTV capabilities and 12-to-18 inch satellite dishes to be launched by 1993.]] [[ExecutiveMeddling However, due to NBC and Fox both fearing upset affiliates if they were to provide their feeds, cable providers not wanting the operation to carry cable networks, and News Corp's financial drain related to [=BSkyB=] and Murdoch's acquisition of TV Guide]], the project was abandoned by early 1991. (Hughes would later launch their own service, [=DirecTV=] in 1994 (since acquired by AT&T); News Corp. from 2003 to 2006 held a 38% stake of [=DirecTV=], several of [=DirecTV=]'s foreign operations use Sky branding, and [=DirecTV=] also owns some former Fox Sports Networks stations under the branding of Root Sports.) 1996 saw the planned ''American Sky Broadcasting'' or ''[=ASkyB=]'', a joint venture between News Corp. and MCI Communications. At one point, a merger between [=EchoStar=]- owners of Dish Network- and [=ASkyB=] was near completion (with plans calling [[WhatCouldHaveBeen for Dish Network to be rebranded as Sky]]), but the merger fell apart for various reasons, including [[HauledBeforeASenateSubcommittee Congressional opposition to [=ASkyB=]'s planned carriage of local TV stations]] and [=EchoStar=]'s founder Charlie Ergen repeatedly clashing with News Corp. executives. The satellites were sold to [=PrimeStar=] (which had briefly planned to merge with [=ASkyB=], but did not [[RightHandVersusLeftHand due to the cable operators who owned Primestar unable to come to an agreement]]), who [[ShaggyDogStory planned to use the satellites but went out of business shortly after]] (the assets went to [=DirecTV=]). Meanwhile, the 110-degree orbital slot and the uplink facility in Gilbert, AZ were sold to [=EchoStar=], who would use the orbital slot to launch their new ''Dish 500'' service.[[/note]].)

Then, on December 14, 2017, in a move that shook the entire media world, Creator/{{Disney}} announced that it would acquire most of 21st Century Fox's entertainment assets, including 20th Century Fox, the FX Networks, Fox International Channels, the Fox Sports regional networks (which Disney agreed to then sell off to third parties in order to get the transaction approved by the US government), Star India and Fox's stakes in National Geographic Partners, Endemol Shine Group and Hulu for a reported $73.1 billion, effectively collapsing Rupert Murdoch's media empire and solidifying Disney's status as the largest media conglomerate in the world. Fox's stake in the Sky group was originally part of the deal, but Comcast decided to bid for the satellite provider, triggering an auction in which Comcast ended up with the higher bid to buy out both Fox and Sky's independent shareholders. The Murdochs retained Fox's news, national sports and broadcasting units for a separate entity, Fox Corporation, which could theoretically merge back into News Corp. As part of the deal, which closed on March 20, 2019, the Murdoch family became the largest individual shareholders in Disney. However, Fox Corporation and Disney are effectively separate entities with no connection with one another.

Back at home, Murdoch retains a dominant role in the [[UsefulNotes/AustralianMedia Australian media]], owning newspapers in nearly every major city in the country (with the Fairfax press giving many cities legitimate competition). ''The Australian'', the country's only general-interest national newspaper, is a slightly more respectable version of ''USA Today''. Due to Australian laws, Murdoch cannot own broadcast stations there anymore, but he is a strong player in cable and satellite television, with half of the ''[[https://www.foxtel.com.au/index.html Foxtel]]'' service (essentially Sky under a different name). Similar to the Blair example above, he voiced approval of Kevin Rudd before the man was elected Prime Minister. Despite a landslide victory Rudd was rolled by his own Labor party with surprising speed, and the new Labor regime has been excoriated most ruthlessly in Murdoch's press (whether this is due to partisanship or not is controversial). A few decades earlier, his papers supported Gough Whitlam's Labor prior to the 1972 election, who gained government after 23 years in opposition. He then turned against them, supporting Malcolm Fraser in the election following Whitlam's dismissal by Governor-General Sir John Kerr, which Fraser won with the largest majority in Australian history.

-->--'''Rupert Murdoch''', ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS10E12SundayCruddySunday Sunday, Cruddy Sunday]]"[[note]]Note that ''The Simpsons'' airs on Fox--which is [[BitingTheHandHumor owned by Murdoch]]. ''And'' [[SelfDeprecation he actually voiced himself for this line]].[[/note]]

Long story short, people who love him will say of him, "He's the man!" People who hate him [[TheMan will agree verbatim]].

Long story short, people who love him will say of him, "He's the man!" People who hate him will agree verbatim.

Long story short, people who love him will say of him, "He's the man!" People who hate him will [[TheMan agree verbatim]].

Keith Rupert Murdoch [[UsefulNotes/KnightFever AC]] (born 11 March 1931), "Rupert" to his friends and confidantes, "Murdoch" to his editors, and "The dirty Digger" to ''Magazine/PrivateEye'', is one of the most powerful men in the world media. He controls News Corporation and Fox Corporation, which combined owns a dizzying number of newspapers, channels including the Creator/{{Fox}} and Creator/MyNetworkTV networks as well the Fox station group (comprising 29 stations; 18 are Fox and 11 are [=MyNetwork TV=]), the most network-owned stations of the six major networks in the US. He also owns half of a cable television provider, radio stations, book publishers, magazines and recording studios internationally. From 1984 to 2019, he famously owned Creator/TwentiethCenturyFox as well, and at one point even owned half of Australia's National UsefulNotes/RugbyLeague.

Keith Rupert Murdoch [[UsefulNotes/KnightFever AC]] (born 11 March 1931), Rupert to his friends and confidantes, "Murdoch" to his editors, and "The dirty Digger" to ''Magazine/PrivateEye'', is one of the most powerful men in the world media. He controls News Corporation and Fox Corporation, which combined owns a dizzying number of newspapers, channels including the Creator/{{Fox}} and Creator/MyNetworkTV networks as well the Fox station group (comprising 29 stations; 18 are Fox and 11 are [=MyNetwork TV=]), the most network-owned stations of the six major networks in the US. He also owns half of a cable television provider, radio stations, book publishers, magazines and recording studios internationally. From 1984 to 2019, he famously owned Creator/TwentiethCenturyFox as well, and at one point even owned half of Australia's National UsefulNotes/RugbyLeague.

However, his cosy position of influence has been on the decline after several years of allegations that the ''News of the World'' hacked into the phones of several celebrities and famous people, which has now extended to include hacking the phones of the families of dead soldiers and 7/7 victims and deleting messages on the phone of a murdered girl, Millie Dowler, to listen in on more. In the latter case, the deleting of messages [[HopeSpot briefly made her parents and investigators believe that she was still alive]]. Shortly afterwards, Murdoch's son announced that the paper was being shut down due to the resultant tide of outrage - the British public are prepared to put up with a lot, but some the hacking didn't so much cross the line as hop back and forth over it, cackling maniacally. However, another Murdoch rag, the ''Sun on Sunday'', quickly popped up to replace it, despite being at least as explicit in its hacking activities as the ''News of the World.'' Despite this, the scandal has spread to other News International titles and also abroad, with his US companies also being investigated as a result (However thanks to his almost total ownership of the British media, the reporting on the phone hacking scandal has perhaps not been as revealing and scandalous as it should have been).

-->--'''Rupert Murdoch''', ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS10E12SundayCruddySunday Sunday, Cruddy Sunday]]"[[note]]Note that ''The Simpsons'' airs on Fox--which is [[BitingTheHandHumor owned by Murdoch]]. ''And'' [[SelfDeprication he actually voiced himself for this line]].[[/note]]

-->--'''Rupert Murdoch''', ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', "[[Recap/TheSimpsonsS10E12SundayCruddySunday Sunday, Cruddy Sunday]]"[[note]]Note that ''The Simpsons'' airs on Fox--which is [[BitingTheHandHumor owned by Murdoch]].[[/note]]

Parodied in ''Film/FierceCreatures'', the [[SpiritualSuccessor spiritual sequel]] of ''Film/AFishCalledWanda''. Part of the inspiration for Creator/KimNewman's regular GreaterScopeVillain and probable {{Antichrist}} Derek Leech (the other parts being Richard Branson and {{Satan}}). Elliot Carver in ''Film/TomorrowNeverDies'' is similar, but actually based on Robert Maxwell. Nicknamed "The Dirty Digger" in ''Magazine/PrivateEye''. ''Series/ABitOfFryAndLaurie'' had the angel in its [[ItsAWonderfulPlot Wonderful Life]] sketch push him back off the bridge. Logan Roy in ''Series/{{Succession}}'' is a NoCelebritiesWereHarmed version of him. And [[Series/CountdownWithKeithOlbermann Keith Olbermann]] portrays him as either a {{pirate}} or [[Franchise/StarWars Emperor Palpatine]]. Arr!

He bought Website/MySpace just as Website/{{Facebook}} was on the rise, and sold it off a few years down the line, when it was [[DeaderThanDisco dead and buried]].

Parodied in ''Film/FierceCreatures'', the [[SpiritualSuccessor spiritual sequel]] of ''Film/AFishCalledWanda''. Part of the inspiration for Creator/KimNewman's regular GreaterScopeVillain and probable {{Antichrist}} Derek Leech (the other parts being Richard Branson and {{Satan}}). Elliot Carver in ''Film/TomorrowNeverDies'' is similar, but actually based on Robert Maxwell. Nicknamed "The Dirty Digger" in ''Magazine/PrivateEye''. ''Series/ABitOfFryAndLaurie'' had the angel in its [[ItsAWonderfulPlot Wonderful Life]] sketch push him back off the bridge. Logan Roy in ''Series/Succession'' is a NoCelebritiesWereHarmed version of him. And [[Series/CountdownWithKeithOlbermann Keith Olbermann]] portrays him as either a {{pirate}} or [[Franchise/StarWars Emperor Palpatine]]. Arr!

Parodied in ''Film/FierceCreatures'', the [[SpiritualSuccessor spiritual sequel]] of ''Film/AFishCalledWanda''. Part of the inspiration for Creator/KimNewman's regular GreaterScopeVillain and probable {{Antichrist}} Derek Leech (the other parts being Richard Branson and {{Satan}}). Elliot Carver in ''Film/TomorrowNeverDies'' is similar, but actually based on Robert Maxwell. Nicknamed "The Dirty Digger" in ''Magazine/PrivateEye''. ''Series/ABitOfFryAndLaurie'' had the angel in its [[ItsAWonderfulPlot Wonderful Life]] sketch push him back off the bridge. And [[Series/CountdownWithKeithOlbermann Keith Olbermann]] portrays him as either a {{pirate}} or [[Franchise/StarWars Emperor Palpatine]]. Arr!

Keith Rupert Murdoch [[UsefulNotes/KnightFever AC]] (born March 11, 1931), Rupert to his friends and confidantes, "Murdoch" to his editors, and "The dirty Digger" to ''Magazine/PrivateEye'', is one of the most powerful men in the world media. He controls News Corporation and Fox Corporation, which combined owns a dizzying number of newspapers, channels including the Creator/{{Fox}} and Creator/MyNetworkTV networks as well the Fox station group (comprising 29 stations; 18 are Fox and 11 are [=MyNetwork TV=]), the most network-owned stations of the six major networks in the US. He also owns half of a cable television provider, radio stations, book publishers, magazines and recording studios internationally. From 1984 to 2019, he famously owned Creator/TwentiethCenturyFox as well, and at one point even owned half of Australia's National UsefulNotes/RugbyLeague.

Keith Rupert Murdoch [[UsefulNotes/KnightFever AC]] (born 11 March 1931), Rupert to his friends and confidantes, "Murdoch" to his editors, and "The dirty Digger" to ''Magazine/PrivateEye'', is one of the most powerful men in the world media. He controls News Corporation and Fox Corporation, which combined owns a dizzying number of newspapers, channels including the Creator/{{Fox}} and Creator/MyNetworkTV networks as well the Fox station group (comprising 29 stations; 18 are Fox and 11 are [=MyNetwork TV=]), the most network-owned stations of the six major networks in the US. He also owns half of a cable television provider, radio stations, book publishers, magazines and recording studios internationally. From 1984 to 2019, he famously owned Creator/TwentiethCenturyFox as well, and at one point even owned half of Australia's National UsefulNotes/RugbyLeague.

When the British TV playwright Dennis Potter was diagnosed with terminal cancer, [[GallowsHumor he named his cancer]] [[TakeThat Rupert]] after Mr. Murdoch.

Back at home, Murdoch retains a dominant role in the [[UsefulNotes/AustralianMedia Australian media]], owning newspapers in nearly every major city in the country (with the Fairfax press giving many cities legitimate competition). ''The Australian'', the country's only general-interest national newspaper, is a slightly more respectable version of ''USA Today''. Due to Australian laws, Murdoch cannot own broadcast stations there anymore, but he is a strong player in cable and satellite television, with half of the ''[[https://www.foxtel.com.au/index.html Foxtel]]'' service (essentially Sky under a different name). Similar to the Blair example above, he voiced approval of Kevin Rudd before the man was elected Prime Minister. Despite a landslide victory Rudd was rolled by his own Labor party with surprising speed, and the new Labor regime has been excoriated most ruthlessly in Murdoch's press (whether this is due to partisanship or not is controversial). A few decades earlier, his papers supported Gough Whitlam's Labor prior to the 1972 election, who gained government after 23 years in opposition. He then turned against them, supporting Malcolm Fraser in the election following Whitlam's dismissal by the Governor General, which Fraser won with the largest majority in Australian history.

Then, on December 14, 2017, in a move that shook the entire media world, Creator/{{Disney}} announced that it would acquire most of 21st Century Fox's entertainment assets, including 20th Century Fox, the FX Networks, Fox International Channels, the Fox Sports regional networks (which Disney agreed to then sell off to third parties in order to get the transaction approved by the US government), Star India and Fox's stakes in National Geographic Partners, Endemol Shine Group and Hulu for a reported $73.1 billion, effectively collapsing Rupert Murdoch's media empire and solidifying Disney's status as the largest media conglomerate in the world. Fox's stake in the Sky group was originally part of the deal, but Comcast decided to bid for the satellite provider, triggering an auction in which Comcast ended up with the higher bid to buy out both Fox and Sky's independent shareholders. The Murdochs retained Fox's news, national sports and broadcasting units for a separate entity, Fox Corporation, which could theoretically merge back into News Corp. As part of the deal, which closed on March 20, 2019, the Murdoch family became the largest individual shareholders in Disney.