108 replies to this topic

[Timothy]

yeah but dude can probably buy his way out.

[Mr. Roboto]

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5VO7fxupGo&feature=player_embedded[/url]

[TAP]

yeah but dude can probably buy his way out.

Maybe, but I'm not so sure - he's lost what's maybe more important than money, the power of media in the UK. This one incident, the phone hacking of the murdered girl, seems to have been a catalyst to turn the public and all political parties against him. They are going to bail from the UK I would think to firewall the US company. But I think the bloodletting will come from within the company - shares have tanked, Murdoch is old and his supposed heir (his son) is seen to be weak. I think they will both be moved aside very shortly. Whether the replacement is any better is another question of course.

[Mr. Roboto]

I hope he goes down the shitter, if anybody deserves it...

[TAP]

More US senators getting involved....

http://mediamatters....og/201107130021

[Mr. Roboto]

[blockquote]California Senator Barbara Boxer has joined Rockefeller in calling on the DOJ and the SEC to investigate whether News Corp. violated the FCPA by allegedly bribing police and whether News Corp. illegally accessed phone records of US residents, including those of 9/11 victims. Boxer and Rockefeller write, "The reported allegations against News Corporation are very serious, indicate a pattern of illegal activity, and involve thousands of potential victims. It is important to ensure that no United States laws were broken and no United States citizens were victimized." [/blockquote]

[TAP]

Republicans want investigation also

http://www.guardian....-hacking-claims

Murdochs agree to appear before parliamentary committees instead of going to prison:

http://www.guardian....liament-summons

[artcinco]

Looks like the new plan is strategic amputations to save the empire.

[TAP]

Looks like the new plan is strategic amputations to save the empire.

Yeah, hard to know whether they are ahead of the curve yet. I know they hired a PR team and finally seem to be doing logical damage control but surprised by Les Hinton resigning today unless they really want to firewall America that way. Glad I'm not working, I'm totally consumed by the whole thing - unlike a lot of stories where info gets recycled because there isn't anything new to add, in this case there really is new stuff several times a day and it's all bigger than the last thing. The feeling seems to be that James Murdoch will also go, and possibly RM too - will be interesting to see what they will unload on UK politicians and police over the weekend and leading up to the hearings on Tuesday. Have a feeling Cameron could go soon. There's certainly bigger stuff to come.

[TAP]

btw Fox finally covered the story today with a 'what's the big deal, let's move on attitude' while two of the biggest players were resigning. Too funny.

[artcinco]

In media it's always "fun" to cover owners when they make bad news. Wall Street Journal is also having to deal with it. NYT is going wall to wall with gloat. ;-)

[TAP]

^^ Yeah WSJ 'interviewed' RM (their owner) who said a few small mistakes had been made. The NYT gloat is nothing compared to the leftie UK media (or my gloat for that matter.) Think this is the first political story I'm enjoying since Obama was elected......and I think I'm enjoying it more than that.

[TAP]

Sounds like there could be some interesting stuff in the sunday newspapers, US and UK. Also an alleged quote that Elizabeth Murdoch is blaming James Murdoch which is awesome.