CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT
The future of the world’s biggest media empire is being fought over a Nevada courtroom this week, as Rupert Murdoch’s family contest the 93-year-old media titan’s current plans for succession.
In the current version of the trust, all three Murdoch heirs – James, Elisabeth and Prudence – were to inherit as much control of the businesses as the oldest son and prominent Brisbane Broncos fan, Lachlan.
After spending their adulthoods striving to impress their father with cold-blooded political populism and culture wars – it seems that Lachlan has proven to Rupert that his lack of a moral compass and blatant disregard for humanity makes him the preferred option to assume sole control over the media companies News Corp. and Fox Corp. after the elder Murdoch’s death.
News Corp. owns influential publications such as the Wall Street Journal, the New York Post, Investor’s Business Daily and Dow Jones. Fox Corp. is the parent company of Fox News and the Fox broadcast network.
The fact that all of these legacy mastheads are at direct risk of becoming completely irrelevant in a TikTok-charged media landscape that none of the post-war media barons were ever prepared for, is also worth mentioning, as the family fight it out for nothing more than what they believe to be fair.
Speaking freely in the Nevada court room today, former hip hop label manager James Packer said “we all know that print newspapers and live TV is doomed – and that the 2016 election of Donald Trump might’ve been the last democratic process that their family was able to influence through traditional media.”
“But even in this crumbling empire, there’s still a few things that I reckon has legs” he said.
“Namely, live rugby league”
As the youngest Murdoch explained, it was always Lachlan that was most commonly associated with rugby league due to the pivotal role he played in the Super League war.
“But after visiting home a few months ago – I was treated to a brilliant live match between the Panthers and Bunnies. Fuck me. What an exilarating experience. It reminds me of the early days of hip hop. Just replace Mos Def with Jai Arrow”
“Anyway. That shit isn’t going anywhere. And neither are those two funny cunts Fletch and Hindy. So give me Kayo and the form guide, and Lachlan can keep that psycho Fox News shit and the Daily Telegraph. Good luck mate.”
