News International Now Controls Sun On Sunday Domain Names

NEW YORK - Will the Sun rise on Sunday?

News International, the embattled British newspaper arm of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. empire, assumed control on Monday of web domain names that suggest the company may try publishing the Sun newspaper on Sundays.

Shortly after News International Chairman James Murdoch announced the abrupt closure of the News of the World in response to the ongoing phone-hacking scandal on Thursday, it was revealed that a company called Mediaspring had registered the domain names thesunonsunday.co.uk and sunonsunday.co.uk two days earlier. So speculation grew that a Sunday edition of the Sun could essentially replace News of the World, the best-selling Sunday paper in the U.K.

News International wouldn't confirm Thursday that someone within the company registered the domains or comment on whether the new domains would be for a future Sunday tabloid to replace News of the World, the paper at the center of a growing scandal that threatens News Corp.'s $12 billion takeover over satellite broadcaster BSkyB and top executives on both sides of the Atlantic. (Find out about the latest details here)

But on Monday, News International Newspapers Limited took control of the domains, according to a WhoIs record search.

A News International spokesperson did not respond for comment.

While the domain name suggests that a Sunday Sun is possible down the line, now probably isn't the best time to launch another newspaper edition.

News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks, who oversaw News of the World during the phone hacking, is still under pressure to resign. And in the past day, the scandal has widened to include other Murdoch papers, including the Sunday Times and Sun.

Jittery News Corp. shareholders watching market share plummet by the billions may push Rupert Murdoch to sell off his beloved British newspapers instead of pushing more money and resources into them.

Comments

[David Eldridge]

05:29 PM on 07/20/2011

Now is not the time to start launching new newspapers; especially, printed editions. It is better for the Empire to practice patience until daybreak, which may take sometime considering the investigations going on currently in multiple countries.

[greysells2]

06:13 PM on 07/14/2011

The corpse is hardly cold and he launches the next gossip rag to replace it. Murdoch has a lot of nerve. You gotta say that about him.

[fobesq]

03:51 PM on 07/13/2011

Arrest that sucker and send him to Afghanistan.

[elamatt]

01:23 PM on 07/13/2011

Oh, happy, happy, joy, joy! Any ideas for a name for his newest rag?

[Mahi Joe]

11:50 AM on 07/13/2011

Same ole, same ole only repackaged and one new rule added....."Don't get caught this time!"

[Almondo]

11:45 AM on 07/13/2011

It probably should be called "Sunday visitation...live from the prison yard".

[Almondo]

11:44 AM on 07/13/2011

The Sunday Weak Lie

[pj-smith]

09:40 AM on 07/13/2011

same cr=ap different name?
these slugs always come out on top of the mud.

[demdame1]

09:19 AM on 07/13/2011

It wil be called "The Lie of the Land"

[giraf]

09:13 AM on 07/13/2011

and it will be called THE SUNDAY HACKER....

[Mattcat25]

09:30 AM on 07/13/2011

This Week in Eaves Dropping…

[docketeer09]

07:48 AM on 07/13/2011

http://hackinginquiry.org/index.php

better to launch THIS!

[inapickle]

04:10 AM on 07/13/2011

I believe and hope that the Brits are more unified than Americans would be over this sort of thing. Boycott and stick with it. Please??

[nightprowler]

07:44 AM on 07/13/2011

no doubt, Pat Buchanan is on msnbc right now talking about all the good he has done...

[Scalian]

01:10 PM on 07/14/2011

Pat Buchanan is a racist. Every time MSNBC puts him on I turn MSNBC off.

[usma84]

02:57 AM on 07/13/2011

Hopefully they won't let him run his evil empire from jail like all the other crime bosses.

[SolarArray]

02:23 AM on 07/13/2011

Jail.

[Scalian]

01:12 PM on 07/14/2011

Right. Murdock has way more money and power than that Frence rapist. He wil get off. Maybe someone associated with the company will get punished, but not Murdock.

[Beachchick]

01:57 AM on 07/13/2011

Murdoch hates democratic government and the rule of law. The Brits should put him to the curb for being such a prickler.