Have you seen the captivating HBO series “Succession”? It’s a compelling drama that delves into the complexities of wealth, power, and family dynamics, drawing inspiration from the Murdoch family.
This influential family, led by billionaire Rupert Murdoch, has significant control over major media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, the New York Post, and Fox News.
Similar to the plot of “Succession,” a behind-the-scenes battle is unfolding within the Murdoch family over who will take control of their media empire after Rupert’s passing.
This power struggle is set to play out in a Nevada court, where a decision will be made on whether the conglomerate will be shared among Rupert’s children or if eldest son Lachlan will assume leadership as desired by his father.
Things could get ugly:
Mr Murdoch’s attempt to overhaul the family trust, dubbed “Project Harmony”, will have significant implications for the future of the media empire, which includes the Sun and Times newspapers as well as Fox News in the US.
Lachlan has taken pole position to take over the reins in recent years after adopting the roles of chief executive and chairman of TV group Fox Corporation in 2019 and chairman of News Corp last year.
The 52-year-old is viewed as the most conservative of Mr Murdoch’s children and as such is most closely aligned with his father’s views.
If James has the opportunity to exert some control, he would probably take coverage in a completely different direction.
Pray that the eldest son of Rupert Murdoch (Lachlan) wins his battle against his siblings to keep control of Fox News.
James is a liberal. If he takes over, Fox will become a CNN clone.
We are outnumbered as conservatives too much already in MSM. pic.twitter.com/CZ8IecVfj3
— Jeff Clark (@JeffClarkUS) September 7, 2024
Many people view Rupert’s decision to alter the trust terms as a way to guarantee that his heirs do not dilute the conservative stance of his media platforms.
James and Elisabeth, who were both previously regarded as potential candidates to take over the family business, are more liberal than their father and have both publicly criticised the nonagenarian’s newspapers and TV channels.
Lawyers for Mr Murdoch argue that handing sole control to Lachlan will be good for all the siblings, as it reduces the risk of divided control that could undermine the business and damage their inheritance.
But the move has been widely regarded as an effort by the tycoon to ensure there is no softening of the Right-wing politics that has come to define his media empire.
