Murdoch did discuss BSkyB with Cameron

Written By: - Date published: 10:11 pm, April 25th, 2012 - 7 comments
Categories: accountability, Media, uk politics - Tags:

James Murdoch has confirmed to the Leveson enquiry that he did discuss News International’s bid to take over BSkyB with Cameron at a dinner at the home of Rebekah Brooks. Last year I wrote a post about Cameron’s denial that he had an inappropriate conversation with the Murdoch’s about their bid to take over BSkyB. It looked like a “I didn’t inhale” denial. Now we know he did inhale.

Not only that, it has also emerged in the same interview that Jeremy Hunt, the Culture Secretary charged with ensuring that the takeover was according to law, was briefing Murdoch on the back channel via his staff. His tenure looks very shaky. Cameron will also be under severe pressure.

As I write, Rupert Murdoch is being interviewed by Robert Jay, counsel to the Leveson enquiry. Its across Sky, BBC and CNN – it’s going to last or five hours. It’s a fascinating insight into the relations between media and politics. It is also showing how a judicial enquiry is the best way to ensure light is shed on the backdoor dealings between political and commercial interest.

It has relevance to us; in particular how our television is being taken over by Murdoch-owned Sky, with the demise of TV7 and a hands-off approach from successive National Ministers of Broadcasting. More to come on this.

 

7 comments on “Murdoch did discuss BSkyB with Cameron ”

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  1. rosy 1
    26 April 2012 at 12:41 am

    It also has relevance in the collusion between big business and government ministers to thwart regulatory and democratic process. Jeremy Hunt must have something pretty good to dispute the evidence that he was feeding information from the minister’s to News International to help the BSkyB (the sky casino deal in NZ sounds like a bit of a echo). Hunt has made an official request to appear before the inquiry, in the hope that it will allow him to hang to his role on until after the Olympics (i.e. shut down the debate until then)

    The right-leaning papers in the UK are positioning this as Murdoch’s revenge for the hacking inquiry that indirectly scuppered the BSkyB bid.

    There’s a lot more to come, for sure.

  2. Dr Terry 2
    26 April 2012 at 3:58 am

    One can only hope and pray that when, and if, TV 7 is banished, viewers will not turn to the frightful Fox News. May I plead that people protest now the threat by a devious government to rid us of a channel that is cultural, artistic, informative, newsworthy, and most of all interesting, often absorbing. Be sure to sign the petition currently available, write to Key and Ministers.

    • Carol 2.1
      26 April 2012 at 7:50 am

      The struggle to save TVNZ7 and Public Broadcasting is continuing. TVNZ7 isn’t dead yet.

      http://issues.co.nz/savetvnz7/Sign+The+Petition

      Paul Norris on why we must try to save TVNZ7, in Tuesday’s Herald.

      http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=10800954

      So what is to be done? Clearly we need to retain TVNZ 7 or a channel like it where viewers can find non-commercial programming. Is it a matter of cost? If the channel continued to be hosted by TVNZ, or possibly by Sky under the forthcoming Igloo package, the cost of programme content could be as little as $10 million to $15 million a year.
      […]
      It is not so much a question of money as of political will. Neither the Government nor TVNZ has any appreciation of, or appetite for, public broadcasting. So viewers who care, who believe that it is vital that we have a non-commercial platform to balance all the commercial channels, should speak up loudly now. Tell the Government that we cannot accept its decision to close TVNZ 7. Sign the petition at http://www.savetvnz7.co.nz . If we lose TVNZ 7, its demise will signal an abject failure of government policy. As a nation we deserve better than this.

  3. Tom 3
    26 April 2012 at 6:47 am

    Some of us never got a chance to see 7 ..