Murdoch to face second grilling
RUPERT Murdoch will be forced to face more questions over the phone hacking scandal tonight, this time from analysts and journalists on the firm’s full year results conference call.
The tycoon faces a grilling on the ongoing controversy, with US analysts keen to pin the company down on the amount News Corp is setting aside for legal costs.
They are also looking for further assurances that News Corp’s US assets are not drawn into the fray, especially in light of allegations that the voicemails of 9/11 victims and their families were hacked.
However, sources close to the firm say Murdoch is unlikely to make the same grovelling apology witnessed at last month’s media select committee hearing. Murdoch, who has not appeared on a results call for the last three quarters, is desperate to steady the ship after a string of top lieutenants were drawn into the scandal, including Dow Jones chief executive Les Hinton and News International boss Rebekah Brooks.
News Corp is expected to raise its quarterly dividend.