ITV

Tag: Wendi Deng

  • Rupert Murdoch sells Fox’s TV stake in China

    Rupert Murdoch sells Fox’s TV stake in China

    MUMBAI: After divorcing his third wife, Wendi Deng, Rupert Murdoch has ended all ties with China by selling off 21st Century Fox’s minority stake in the broadcaster Star China TV to a private equity.

     

    Star China’s majority shareholder since 2010, China Media Capital, has agreed to buy Murdoch’s remaining 47 per cent stake for an undisclosed sum, estimated to be roughly $150 million.

     

     

    The existing Chinese management team will remain in place, broadcasting three Mandarin channels and producing China’s Got Talent.

     

    The move means that it is the final stage of a retreat from China, which Rupert Murdoch has tried to crack since 1993.

     

    However, as part of 21st Century Fox, Star TV, will now continue to focus its ambitions on India.

     

    James Murdoch oversees 21st Century Fox’s international businesses.

  • Rupert Murdoch clashes with Tony Blair over Wendi Deng

    Rupert Murdoch clashes with Tony Blair over Wendi Deng

    MUMBAI: Media baron Rupert Murdoch and his ex-wife Wendi Deng may have called it quits, but there seems to be lots brewing between the two even now. Several media reports are hinting towards a rift between Murdoch and Tony Blair. The reason being stated is the former premier’s friendship with Wendi.

     

    Though Blair had always stated that his relationship with Deng is platonic, it is learnt that Murdoch has refused to speak to him since filing for divorce from Deng in June.
    According to reports, the breakdown of the friendship between the two men is being attributed to the claims that both Blair and Deng met on several occasions without Murdoch’s knowledge.

     

    It was in June that Blair had to come out in open to clear the air which linked him to Murdoch’s divorce. At the time, his spokesman had told the Hollywood Reporter: ‘If you are asking if they are having an affair, the answer is no.’

     

    An acquaintance of Murdoch was quoted: ‘Rupert Murdoch will have nothing more to do with Tony Blair. Not ever.’ Several media reports were seen quoting Murdoch’s friends.  In a report published in The Mail, another friend of Murdoch said: ‘If you think that Rupert made a decision to end his marriage and a long-term friendship without just cause, you are sorely mistaken.’

     

    However The Mail also quoted a close friend of Blair saying: “The ridiculous stories about Wendi and Tony’ were not true.” Blair’s friends insist that the relationship between Blair and Deng was innocent and that they never met alone.

     

    While the duo had formed a strong friendship, with Blair becoming god- father to the Murdochs’ daughter Grace in 2010, this rift surely comes as a shock to many.

  • Murdoch-Wendi get divorced

    Murdoch-Wendi get divorced

    MUMBAI: It’s done and over with. Media baron Rupert Murdoch and his third wife Wendi Deng got divorced on Wednesday. And there was none of the drama that is normally associated with the end of celebrity marriages. The duo –first Murdoch and then Wendi – arrived quietly in the New York Supreme Court in Manhattan and agreed to the terms of the divorce before Judge Ellen Gesmer, and the hearing was over in just about 15 minutes.

     

    The couple had signed one prenuptial and two postnuptial agreements delineating the division of assets in the event of a divorce. As part of the final terms, Wendi will continue to keep the couple’s apartment on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan valued at $44 million and their home in Beijing.

     

    Murdoch and Wendi have two daughters 12 year old Grace Helen, and 10 year old Chloe. The octogenarian has four other children from his two earlier marriages – Prudence, James, Lachlan and Elisabeth.

     

    Murdoch’s personal fortune which was estimated in excess of $13 billion is held in a family trust in which all this six children have an equal economic interest though his two youngest daughters have no voting interest.  The trust owns about 40 per cent stock News Corp and Twenty First Century Fox. News Corp is the owner of India’s $1billion plus turnover Star India network which runs India’s No 1 Hindi GEC Star Plus and also India’s leading sports television network.

     

    Married for 14 years, the couple decided to part ways when Murdoch said he wanted a divorce in June this year as the marriage had irretrievably broken down.  They later issued a joint statement which said: “We are pleased to announce that we have reached an amicable settlement of all matters relating to our divorce. We move forward with mutual respect and a shared interest in the health and happiness of our two daughters. We will not comment on this any further.”

  • Rupert Murdoch plans to divide wealth equally between children

    Rupert Murdoch plans to divide wealth equally between children

    MUMBAI: Media tycoon Rupert Murdoch has said that he plans to divide his wealth equally among his six children. In an interviw on US broadcaster CBS’ Charlie Rose Show he added that if he died tomorrow, his four elder children would decide who among them would control the family trust’s 30% control of the media conglomerate. Murdoch has also said that his two younger children through his third marriage to Wendi Deng will not have a role in the future of News Corp.

    This reports indicate settles confusion over who will take over the reins once Murdoch steps down. It was this confusion that led to a fight that saw Lachlan Murdoch quitting the company last year. The four children from Murdoch’s first two marriages Prudence, Lachlan, Elizabeth and James will control the family’s controlling stake in News Corp once he dies.

    “If I go under a bus tomorrow, it will be the four of them will have to decide which of the ones should lead them,” he said.