London, May 31: Media mogul Rupert Murdoch is the poster boy for the evils of increased media consolidation in a new ad campaign launched this week. “This man wants to control the news in America,” states a new series of ads that feature a scowling Murdoch on four TV screens, launched in several US newspapers by three groups opposed to loosening restrictions on media ownership. “Unless we act now, Rupert Murdoch is going to get his way.” An accompanying television ad features a man desperately changing channels, only to find Murdoch on every station.

The News Corp chairman and CEO, whose empire also includes BSkyB and Fox Entertainment, is at the centre of deregulation initiatives currently pending in both the US and Britain. A far-reaching communications bill in the British parliament hit a roadblock this month because of opposition to the so-called ‘Murdoch clause,’ which would allow the owner of the Sun and Times of London newspapers to purchase the Channel Five television station. In the US, where News Corp’s holdings include the New York Post newspaper and the recently acquired satellite firm DirecTV, the Federal Communications Commission will decide whether to relax ownership restrictions on local television stations and newspapers.


News Corp spokesman Andrew Butcher called the ads totally inaccurate. “The truth is that in the past two decades, no single company has brought greater choice to the American television market than News Corp,” he said. “They’ve specifically singled out News Corp because Rupert Murdoch is the best known of the media proprietors.
“It’s irresponsible and patent nonsense to suggest that he wants to take over the world.” Bureau Report