Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/661/11331
From The Socialist newspaper, 9 March 2011
Tories allow growth of Murdoch media empire
AS EXPECTED, News Corporation group, owned by the Rupert Murdoch clan, has been given the green light by Tory culture and media secretary Jeremy Hunt to fully take over TV satellite company BSkyB - the largest pay TV broadcaster in the UK.
It's arguable that News Corporation, that currently owns 40% of BSkyB, already has effective control. Nonetheless the takeover, if a cash deal (estimated to be worth £9 billion) is agreed with the BSkyB board, will strengthen the Murdoch media empire in the UK.
Murdoch's News International titles are notorious for their anti-labour movement stance, including sacking thousands of print workers and journalists during the Wapping dispute in the mid-1980s.
It was the News of the World (NoW) that initiated perjury proceedings against well-known Scottish socialist Tommy Sheridan. This was after Tommy won a libel case against NoW in 2006.
NoW is currently embroiled in illegal phone hacking charges after the police and department for public prosecutions initially failed to pursue numerous complaints from politicians and celebrities that their phone messages had been compromised.
Rupert Murdoch has enjoyed a personal audience with prime minister David Cameron, and News International newspaper titles, which include the Sun and the Times, switched their political support from New Labour to the Tories prior to the general election. Both parties deny that any mutually beneficial deal had been struck.
Prior to Jeremy Hunt overseeing the 'gift' business secretary and Lib Dem MP Vince Cable was in charge. But Cable was suckered by undercover journalists (ironically working for a Murdoch rival, the Daily Telegraph) into saying that he would prevent the takeover. The publication of his hostile statement on Murdoch's bid compromised Cable, who was then moved from his role.
As a sop to public concerns about its media domination News Corporation has agreed to spin off Sky News as an "independent company". But the rolling news channel is not a lucrative business unlike the highly profitable TV pay subscriptions of BSkyB. Moreover, Murdoch's claims during previous takeovers, including of the Times newspapers and the Wall Street Journal, to protect editorial independence, have proved worthless.
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In The Socialist 9 March 2011:
Anti-cuts campaign
Labour councils should fight cuts, not implement them!
Demonstrations against council cuts
Socialist Party youth and students
For a fighting student leadership
Jarrow march for jobs: Why Hull is marching
International socialist news and analysis
Middle East uprisings: The unfinished revolutions
Socialist Party news and analysis
Lib Dems 'get a kicking' in Barnsley
Wales votes 'yes' but workers' party needed
Lewisham: Vote for a real fight against the cuts
Cardiff march and rally against cuts
Brighton: Labour and Green Party councillors fail to stop Tory budget
Tories allow growth of Murdoch media empire
TUC must address demo access issue
Socialist Party workplace news
BP Hull Saltend construction workers win victory through strike action
Fighting the anti-trade union laws
UCU members vote for action on pensions, jobs and pay
Socialist Party feature
Casualties of cuts - and a rotten system
Needed: a fair deal for carers!
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