The gossip at Fox News centers around the future of the company after patriarch Rupert Murdoch passes away. There are questions about who will take control of the conservative media empire, whether it will be Murdoch’s chosen-son Lachlan or his more moderate children. The family is embroiled in a secret succession battle in Nevada court where Rupert is seeking to amend the family trust to give his children equal votes over the future of the company after he dies, with Lachlan remaining in charge.
If Rupert’s request is approved, James Murdoch’s potential plans to revamp Fox News will be blocked. James has long been troubled by Fox’s right-wing programming and has privately drafted plans to bring the network back to reality-based news and away from pro-Donald Trump propaganda. The idea of James taking over is openly discussed and feared within Fox News, with some personalities reportedly trying to establish connections with him despite Lachlan currently being in charge.
Rupert Murdoch is currently in Reno, trying to control the weather, or in this case, the succession battle within his family. Last year, he moved to change the terms of the family trust to ensure the company maintains its right-wing leanings even after his death. Billions of dollars are at stake, with Rupert’s side arguing that keeping Fox’s audience hooked on pro-Trump programming is essential for the company’s bottom line. The hearings in Nevada involve all four Murdoch children and could last about two weeks.
The dispute became public when Rupert and his longtime confidant Bill Barr were seen entering court for the hearings. The proceedings are shrouded in secrecy, and the Murdochs’ involvement was not officially acknowledged for some time. Elisabeth and Prudence, along with James, oppose Rupert’s attempt to change the family trust, setting up a highly personal and intense political showdown that could affect the future of the family business.
The outcome of the hearings will determine whether Lachlan maintains control of Fox News or whether James, with the support of his sisters, could potentially take over in the future. The uncertainty surrounding the succession battle has Fox employees speculating about the future of the network, its programming, and its overall direction. The fate of Fox News hinges on the decisions made in the Nevada courtroom, where the Murdoch family’s internal power struggle is playing out for all to see.
