TV heads ready to grab empire

Press, 9 May 1985, Page 30

TV heads ready to grab empire

NZPA-AAP Melbourne Media chiefs are waiting in the wings to pounce if the Australian Broadcasting Tribunal pulls the plug on Rupert Murdoch’s local television empire.

The Herald and Weekly Times, Ltd, has confirmed that it is “closely monitoring the situation” and is “interested in the opportunity of having a SydneyMelbourne television base.” A Melbourne businessman, Mr Christopher Skase, who last year bought a Queensland television station for $34 million, also confirmed he would bid for Mr Murdoch’s interests in Channel 10 in Sydney and ATV 10 in Melbourne if the media magnate is forced to sell his stake after becoming a United States citizen. Media analysts have said they also believe John Fairfax, Ltd, is interested. This group is joined by

names known well in every Australian boardroom — two West Australian entrepreneurs, Messrs Robert Homes a Court and Alan Bond.

Mr Murdoch has said he intends to seek American citizenship in order to clear the way for a $2 billion deal to buy seven United States television stations from Metromedia, Inc. The broadcasting tribunal has said it will review Mr Murdoch’s control of two Australian television stations if he relinquishes his Australian citizenship. The tribunal, which regulates broadcasting in Australia, said no action would be taken against Mr Murdoch until he changed his citizenship.

Metromedia said it was selling the stations to a new company formed by Mr Murdoch and a Texas oilman, Mr Marvin Davis.