The war of words between News Corp and Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has escalated. The media conglomerate has clarified its does not own 70% of Australian newspapers after comments to that effect from Rudd.
An oft-mentioned figure, News Corp has taken the opportunity to clear up that it does not own 70% of newspapers in Australia after Rudd repeated the company did. News Corp stated it owned 33% of ABC and CAB audited titles in Australia and claimed a 59% share of newspaper circulation.
The start of the formal election period has seen ructions between the News Corp and Rudd camps, heightened by The Daily Telegraph's front page editorial on Monday. In response, Rudd suggested News had its own bottom line-driven agenda to see him turfed out of The Lodge.
A News Corp Australia spokesperson said: “Recent political commentary has perpetuated a long-standing myth that News Corp Australia owns 70% of Australian newspapers.
He stressed newspaper commentary only make up a portion of media coverage. He added: “All of this ignores television, radio and the myriad online news sources which offer more diversity in opinion than at any time in history.”
News Corp also has a presence in TV assets through its 50% ownership of Foxtel, and its news.com.au website is the most visited online news site according to Nielsen statistics.
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