Murdoch Contemplates Splitting Up News Corp

Separating publishing would make other media more profitable
By Mark Russell,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 26, 2012 7:34 AM CDT
Murdoch Contemplates Splitting Up News Corp
Rupert Murdoch delivering a keynote address at the National Summit on Education Reform on Friday, Oct. 14, 2011, in San Francisco.   (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

After resisting investors' pressure for years, Rupert Murdoch is finally considering splitting his News Corp. media empire in two, dividing publishing and the company's other, more lucrative media units, reports the Wall Street Journal. The Murdoch family would likely maintain its control of both companies, similar to Sumner Redstone's division of Viacom in 2006.

Despite the high-profile scandals that have swirled around Murdoch and News Corp. for the past year, the move to split the company appears to be driven simply by profits, according to the Financial Times. The publishing divisions in News Corp. brought in one-quarter of the company's $23.5 billion in revenues in the year ending June 2011, but accounted for just 10% of its operating profits. (More Rupert Murdoch stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X