MURDOCH—–THE END OF HIS EMPIRE?

  The phone-hacking scandal has already cost Rupert Murdoch his best-selling UK newspaper and his bid to buy BSkyB. 

Now some commentators say it threatens the very dynasty he has devoted his life to building.
The recent revelations have brought condemnation from members of the public who had previously been loyal readers and politicians who had until now been too scared to criticise the mighty News International.
Michael Wolff, author of the Rupert Murdoch biography The Man Who Owns The News, told Sky News the claims had stripped Mr Murdoch of his power in the UK.
“He has essentially lost the method – his newspapers. They are in the spotlight and they can’t do their backroom work,” he said.
“His power has always been based on his ability to reward and punish, and he can’t do that any more.”
Mr Wolff claimed that Mr Murdoch’s ability to handle the scandal was diminished by his age, and that he was no longer in a position to run News Corp effectively.
At 80 years old, Rupert has been grooming his youngest son, James, to take over his media empire.
But James’ admission he authorised payments to hacking victims to keep quiet about the crime has cast the succession into doubt.
The prospect of possible criminal charges loom, and according to Mr Wolff, the younger Murdoch has “no credibility left whatsoever” among News Corp directors following his handling of the scandal.

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