Murdoch bids for total control of BSkyB

Media barons and media moguls are descriptions of bygone days, neither of which adequately fit Rupert Murdoch and son James. For the Murdochs are all-powerful global giants, and they have struck at precisely the right time. An economic liberalising coalition government will not step in to put a halt to News Corporation’s plans for total control of BSkyB.

rupert-murdoch-bskyb As Professor James Curran recently wrote on the Open Democracy website:

“One consequence of the current quiescence is that media conglomerates have been able to persuade governments around the world to ease monopoly controls. In the 1980s, lobbyists argued that these were redundant since the advent of new communication technology would lead to the break-up of media empires.

“Now the argument is more frequently heard that media ‘consolidation’ is necessary for success in the competitive global marketplace. This shift symbolises the way in which successful media giants have so far weathered the storm of increased competition, and won increased acceptance in the era of market liberalism.”

This bid of BSkyB comes only two weeks after Virgin TV channels were bought. We now have huge swathes of communications – newspapers, television, broadband - under the control of the Murdoch empire. Those early battles against cross party ownership and the unfair advantage that would ensue appear almost quaint.

So who is left to hold News Corporation to account? The prime minister has already promised an Ofcom where its remit will be restricted to its narrow technical and enforcement roles; it will no longer play a role in making policy.

So will it be the culture, media and sport select committee whose chair, John Whittingdale, said after James Murdoch’s infamous Edinburgh speech attacking the BBC and Ofcom that much of what he said was “natural Conservative territory“?

Maybe each of the Labour leadership candidates could be asked:

“Will you put a halt to this concentration of power?”

It is often said that ownership doesn’t matter, but having this media information control does matter. And as we know Rupert Murdoch wants to introduce Fox-style news here. Thus far he has been thwarted by our impartiality rules, but how long might it be before a Glen Beck is denigrating the airwaves?

http://twitter.com/brucerisk/status/16382321399 brucerisk

RT @leftfootfwd: Murdoch bids for total control of BSkyB: http://bit.ly/a8JwB2
http://twitter.com/marcus_hickman/status/16382599211 marcus hickman

RT @leftfootfwd: Murdoch bids for total control of BSkyB http://bit.ly/a8JwB2 < hopefully his empire will do an Alexander when he pops it
http://billyblofeld.wordpress.com Billy Blofeld

Who is left to hold the BBC to account? The BBC.

Given we are forced to pay for the BBC, if we want a TV, Sky and Newscorp are the least of our worries…………
Mr. Sensible

I knew it.

The coalition government is dancing to Murdock’s tune, and in terms of media accountability we’re all going to be worse off for it.

Disgrace!
Rezdoggy

Since we pay for the BBC, it is accountable to us. Sky and Newscorp aren’t, hence the manipulative and hysterical Fox News in America. The BBC will never become like Fox, Sky is already on its way.
Mr. Sensible

Joy, how long do you think it will be before Murdock becomes a Lord and gets a seat in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport?

Everything this government has done in that department, whether it is cutting the role of Ofcom, proposing that the License Fee be frozen, or proposing to cut the protected list of sporting events have all been done to suit News International.

Not to mention bringing Andy Coulson in to the Government despite him still being embroiled in the Phone Hacking business.

A backroom deal has been done, and do you agree with me Joy that this is another nail in the coffin for ‘The New Politics?’
Henry

The real danger here is the abolition of the ‘impartiality’ rule. This will lead to right wing zillionaires setting up TV stations to peddle their crazy ideas a la Fox or Berlusconi TV. We will no doubt be told that this is done in the name of ‘freedom’…
Mr. Sensible

Agreed, Henry.

It is important in my view that News Coverage is imparcial, like the BBC.
V.Speed

The man is not impartial, the news is already tailored to what he wants the public to hear.
http://twitter.com/codeoconduct/status/16400822594 Bertromavich Reibold

Murdoch bids for total control of BSkyB | Left Foot Forward: Joy, how long do you think it will be before Murdock … http://bit.ly/9Ab4J1
Stevie B

This is a sad day for the country and our ever decreasing freedoms. Listen the the critics of the BBC and you can hear, almost word for word, the comment column in the Sun being repeated. Fools who need Murdoch to think for them and of course they will welcome this. It allows them the privilege of being able to think even less. The BBC is not perfect and no one for a minute should think so, but it is the best out there. It is ours, all of ours. It is independent, although even that amount of freedom scares the life out of those on the right and of course it is envied the world over. Only a complete fool, would want to do it down…..Wait….here they all come. Murdoch at the front and every nodding subservient buffoon behind him including a ginning smug Cameron. There are indeed dangerous times!
Mr. Sensible

Billy, as someone else has said, the BBC is accountable to the public.

I happen to like its news coverage; no political bias.

And at least you’re not likely to have the Football interupted by a car advert!
http://twitter.com/ttstwit/status/16427928565 Tony Troughton-Smith

RT @leftfootfwd: Murdoch bids for total control of BSkyB http://bit.ly/a8JwB2 < His ambition, unconstrained, is a threat to us all.
http://bestblogs.labourhome.org/2010/06/17/murdoch-bids-for-total-control-of-bskyb/ Murdoch bids for total control of BSkyB « The best Labour blogs

[...] More… [...]
tracy j

i actually find sky news better and more impartial than the bbc. the bbc arab-israeli conflict and the nauseous anti-semite orla geurin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orla_Guerin#Accused_of_bias are beyond the pale
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/06/look-left-the-week-in-fast-forward-18-06-10/ Look Left – The Week in Fast Forward | Left Foot Forward

[...] ‘total control‘ of BSkyB. Left Foot Forward’s Joy Johnson explained that it was unlikely he would be stopped: “An economic liberalising coalition government will not step in to put a [...]
Mr. Sensible

Tracy, I don’t agree with that.
http://twitter.com/xklamation/status/17804368767 Joana Morais

Murdoch bids for total control of BSkyB | Left Foot Forward http://goo.gl/Wubc #mcann #media #uk #murdoch
http://twitter.com/veniviedivici/status/17804876436 nobby-Lobby

RT @xklamation: Murdoch bids for total control of BSkyB | Left Foot Forward http://goo.gl/Wubc #mcann #media #uk #murdoch
http://twitter.com/evelyn60/status/17805163599 Eve Broughton

RT @xklamation: Murdoch bids for total control of BSkyB | Left Foot Forward http://goo.gl/Wubc #mcann #media #uk #murdoch