Control of Murdoch media empire at stake as hearing to proceed with mogul and children

Rupert Murdoch's family battles in court over control of media empire, closed-door hearings underway in Nevada.

Rupert Murdoch and four of his children on Monday went before a Nevada probate commissioner behind closed doors to an evidentiary hearing that could decide who controls Mr. Murdoch's media empire after his death.

The hearing scheduled to resume Tuesday (September 17, 2024) and continue into next week comes after Mr. Murdoch, 93, moved last year to change the terms of his irrevocable family trust.

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The New York Times reported, based on a sealed Washoe County court document, that it was part of a bid to ensure that his eldest son, Lachlan, remains in charge of his cadre of newspapers and television networks, including The Wall Street Journal and Fox News Channel.

The court has kept the hearings closed to the public and most documents sealed, largely rejecting requests for access by news organisations including The Associated Press.

The trust was originally set up to give equal control over Rupert Murdoch's businesses to his four oldest children upon his death, according to the Times.

Mr. Murdoch stepped down as leader of both Fox News' parent company and his News Corp. media holdings last fall. He is arguing that to preserve his businesses' commercial value for all his heirs, the trust must be changed so Lachlan can ensure his newspapers and TV networks continue to have a conservative editorial outlook, the Times reported.