Media Mogul Battle! Murdoch, Zuckerman Both Eyeing Another New York Paper

As first reported yesterday by Crains New York, News Corp. chairman Rupert Murdoch — who recently acquired Dow Jones (and the Wall Street Journal flagship that came with it — is eyeing Sam Zell's Newsday, confirmed by Murdoch's own New York Post today.

But the New York Times adds that Murdoch is not alone in the hunt for Newsday. Fellow media moguls Mort Zuckerman (who owns New York Post rival Daily News) and Cablevision owner Jim Dolan are also bidding for the Long Island paper. From the NYT:

Mr. Murdoch, for example, is considering a deal that would be structured as a joint venture between The Post and Newsday, that would combine the back-office operations of the two papers. None of the people involved in the auction would be identified because of the confidential nature of the talks....

Mr. Zuckerman is also considering a joint venture between The Daily News and Newsday, according to people with knowledge of the auction....

Cablevision, meanwhile, is said to be interested in acquiring Newsday outright. Cablevision, like Newsday, is based in Long Island, where the company also owns a local news station. Representatives for News Corporation, Cablevision and Mr. Zuckerman all declined comment.

Read the entire New York Times article, which includes speculation about Newsday's valuation here, or read what legendary Newsday columnist Jimmy Breslin — a vocal critic of Rupert Murdoch — had to say about the potential sale of his paper to the man he's criticized so much here (his response will surprise you).

Comments

[divemania]

09:33 AM on 03/22/2008

Rupert was required by the FCC to obtain a waiver to own a newspaper (The Post) and television stations (first WNYW, then WWOR) in the same market. Unfortunately, the FCC routinely grants these waivers. Since receiving the waivers, News Corp. has acquired the Wall St. Journal (not a local paper) and proposes to purchase another paper (Newsday), serving the New York market.

With media consolidation concerns, surely the FCC will not grant to News Corp a waiver allowing them to operate two daily newspapers and two television stations in the same market? Or will they?

[larry278]

05:52 PM on 03/21/2008

Deregulation probably changed & eviscerated the old FCC. Both the Messrs Zuckerman & Murdoch are so rich that they could buy me for what I think that I'm worth & sell me at the price I'd go for & have a few trillion left. These two are uber rich. It wouldn't be surprising that there'd be a line 23 km long of people willing to front for them as owner of a property if the USA would ever again had laws restricting the owning of the various types of media.

[vokey23]

04:29 PM on 03/21/2008

go mort!

[Oldtimer]

03:22 PM on 03/21/2008

The next President of the United States must not only stop Murdoch from buying more media but
he must force Murdoch out of the media position he's already amassed.

[bob5701]

03:17 PM on 03/21/2008

Doesn't matter who wins there the same.

[SeekerOne]

02:06 PM on 03/21/2008

Murdoch must be stopped!

[Tom95134]

11:43 AM on 03/21/2008

Newsday is one of te last really good newspapers around. It will be a sad day for the media if Murdoch manages to get his hands on it.

[CAPTAINSKIPPY]

11:41 AM on 03/21/2008

Quality of the local paper here has deteriorated since the Reich-wing cabal took over. NY ready to suffer the same results it seems. It is now Time to cancel our subscriptions to the media dictatorship, and give a firm goodbye to those who feel they never have enough control over us.

[Nevervotesrepublican]

11:14 AM on 03/21/2008

Why would'nt the australian plague buy more newspapers. Under the new tax law, if he reinvest, he doesn't have to pay any taxes. Good for Rupert..... Bad for America.

Auzie Go Home!!!

[MissingAmerica]

11:04 AM on 03/21/2008

I recall years ago when the prevailing common sense forced Ma Bell to break up to avoid a monopoly. It would seem we are coming full circle. Unfortunately, it is now greed and corruption which are allowing monopolies at a time when such a system can do so much more damage than it could 40 years ago. We need a government which encourages free enterprise, not monopolies and greed. Could it be that the government is allowing that which it sees is best for itself rather than the country? Yup!

[MagisterLudi]

12:29 PM on 03/23/2008

"prevailing common sense forced Ma Bell to break up"

You ever heard of the anti-trust court case in this matter? Apparently not.

Always an old timer peddling "thing where better back when I was young" silliness.

[Irons]

10:59 AM on 03/21/2008

Zuckerman is a very average person in all ways, if not slightly below the mean in IQ, but he's a trust fund kid. He was born with the whole silver tea set crammed in his mouth.

[MadCow]

10:56 AM on 03/21/2008

Wonderful! By the time it's all over, we'll have ONE newspaper, ONE bank, ONE airline
and lots of happy sheep: Life will be uncomplicated. Hurrah.

[kae]

01:21 PM on 03/21/2008

EXACTLY!
WHERE IS THE FCC?
THIS IS THEIR PURPOSE.
RUPERT CANNOT OWN ONE MORE OF ANYTHING.
WHERE IS THE FCC?