Murdoch cedes control of Chinese TV channels

[Newsjock]

Source: The Independent

Rupert Murdoch has sold a majority stake in three of his Chinese TV channels to a private equity fund backed by the government in Beijing.

The decision marks a shift in News Corporation's strategy in the country and fuelled speculation yesterday that the media mogul could retreat from China, where his company has struggled to break through despite a long-standing commitment to the market.

... Mr Murdoch's decision to cede full control prompted speculation that News Corp has become frustrated with the control the Chinese authorities continue to exert on the country's media, despite encouraging commercialisation. There have also been suggestions that Mr Murdoch's son James, an increasingly powerful force within the company, is not convinced that News Corp's efforts in China will bear fruit in the near future.

However, insiders at the business rejected suggestions that the sale of the TV stakes signalled News Corp's retreat from China. Alongside the remaining holding in its Star TV business, News Corp also has a 17.6 per cent holding in Phoenix Satellite Television, which runs three channels, as well as the Chinese operations of subsidiaries Dow Jones and MySpace. One possibility is that partnering with local state-owned operators may accelerate its expansion. A source close to News Corp said the move would help "open up the region".


Read more: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/murdoch-cedes-control-of-chinese-tv-channels-2048034.html

[alp227]

1. Who's better at journalism, right-wing hack Murdoch or left-wing commies in China?

:shrug:

Murdoch infected Fox News with all sorts of propaganda and spin (like Sean Hannity) and helped inflate right-wing pressure in American political discourse.

The Chinese government regularly censors dissidents from the media/Internet and filters the media to be at a "Tiananmen denial" and "the government is always right" angle.

Who's worse?

[aquart]

2. Is "left wing" still a reasonable description of China's gov or policies?

I find myself confused when I think about their cheap labor factories and air pollution.

[Imajika]

3. They are just authoritarian now...

China dropped the actual communist stuff many years ago. They just use the tattered remains of the ideology to hold on to political control of the people.

There is pretty much nothing left wing about China these days.

[cstanleytech]

4. Both are just about equal in that area.