News Corporation (NASDAQ: NWS, NASDAQ: NWSA, ASX: NWS, ASX: NWSLV), often abbreviated to News Corp., is the world's third-largest media conglomerate (behind The Walt Disney Company and Time Warner) as of 2008, and the world's third largest in entertainment as of 2009.[5][6][7][8] The company's Chairman & Chief Executive Officer is Rupert Murdoch.
News Corporation is a publicly traded company listed on the NASDAQ, with secondary listings on the Australian Securities Exchange. Formerly incorporated in South Australia, the company was re-incorporated under Delaware General Corporation Law after a majority of shareholders approved the move on November 12, 2004. At present, News Corporation is headquartered at 1211 Avenue of the Americas (Sixth Ave.), in New York City, in the newer 1960s-1970s corridor of the Rockefeller Center complex.
News Corporation is a diversified global media company. It has operations in eight segments: Filmed Entertainment, Television, Cable Network Programming, Direct Broadcast Satellite Television, Integrated Marketing Services, Newspapers and Information Services, Book Publishing, and Others. The Company’s activities are conducted in the United States, the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, Australia, Asia and Latin America. In April 2010, the Company completed the sale of bTV, its Bulgarian terrestrial television business, to Central European Media Enterprises (CME). In October 2008, the Company purchased VeriSign Inc.’s minority share of the Jamba joint venture increasing the Company’s interest to 100%. In February 2009, the Company, two newly incorporated subsidiaries of funds advised by Permira Advisers LLP (the Permira Newcos) and the Company’s then majority owned, publicly held subsidiary, NDS Group plc (NDS), completed a transaction pursuant to which all issued and outstanding NDS were acquired. As a result of the transaction, NDS ceased to be a public company and the Permira Newcos and the Company owns approximately 51% and 49% of NDS, respectively. In June 2010, the Company acquired Skiff, LLC. In April 2011, the Company acquired Shine Group.
Filmed Entertainment
The Company engages in the production and acquisition of live-action and animated motion pictures for distribution and licensing in all formats in all entertainment media globally, and the production and licensing of television programming globally. Fox Filmed Entertainment (FFE) produces, acquires and distributes motion pictures globally under a range of arrangements. The motion pictures of FFE are produced and/or distributed by Twentieth Century Fox and Fox 2000. In addition, Fox International Productions, Inc. co-produces and co-finances local-language motion pictures for distribution outside the United States.
Television
The Company is engaged in the operation of broadcast television stations and the broadcasting of network programming in the United States. Fox Television Stations, Inc. (Fox Television Stations) owns and operates 27 full power stations. It owns and operates two stations in the designated market areas (DMAs). FOX Broadcasting Company (FOX) has 203 FOX Affiliates, including the 17 stations owned and operated by the Company. FOX’s prime-time programming features such series as House, The Simpsons, Bones, Fringe and Glee; unscripted series, such as American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance, and various specials. National sports programming, such as the NFL, MLB and NASCAR programming, is obtained under license agreements with professional sports leagues or organizations. As of June 30, 2010, MyNetworkTV had 173 affiliates, including 10 affiliates owned by the Company, reaching approximately 94% of the United States households.
Cable Network Programming
The Company produces and licenses news, business news, sports, general entertainment and movie programming for distribution through cable television systems and direct broadcast satellite operators in the United States and internationally. FOX News owns and operates the FOX News Channel, a 24-hour all news national cable channel. It also produces a weekend political commentary show, FOX News Sunday, for broadcast on local FOX television stations throughout the United States. FOX News, through its FOX News Edge service, licenses news feeds to FOX Affiliates and other subscribers to use as part of local news broadcasts throughout the United States and abroad. FOX News also produces and runs the Websites, FOXNews.com and FOXBusiness.com, and owns and produces the national FOX News Radio Network, which licenses news updates, long form programs and the FOX News Talk Channel to local radio stations and to satellite radio providers.
Direct Broadcast Satellite Television
The Company engages in the direct broadcast satellite business through its subsidiary, SKY Italia. It also owns equity interests in BSkyB and Sky Deutschland AG (Sky Deutschland), which are engaged in the DBS business. SKY Italia distributes over 180 channels of basic, premium and pay-per-view programming services via satellite and broadband directly to subscribers in Italy. The programming includes rights to popular sporting events, newly-released movies and SKY Italia’s original programming, such as SKY TG 24, Italy’s first 24-hour news channel.
Integrated Marketing Services
News America Marketing Group (NAMG) publishes insert publications and provides in-store marketing products and services. It is a provider of in-store marketing products and services, primarily to consumer packaged goods manufacturers, with products in more than 55,000 supermarkets, drug stores, dollar stores, office supply stores and mass merchandisers globally. SmartSource is the brand name linked with NAMG’s assortment of marketing products, including, among others, free-standing inserts, NAMG’s instant coupon machines and various shelf advertising products.
The SmartSource iGroup manages NAMG’s portfolio of database marketing and on-line marketing products and services. The database marketing business, branded SmartSource Direct, provides database marketing and technology solutions for both retailers and manufacturers.
Newspapers and Information Services
The Company is engaged in the newspaper and information services business, primarily through its subsidiaries News International, News Limited, Dow Jones and The New York Post. News International Limited (News International) publishes The Times, The Sunday Times, The Sun and News of the World in the United Kingdom and Ireland. News International also publishes The Times Literary Supplement, a weekly literary review.
Book Publishing
HarperCollins Publishers (HarperCollins) is engaged in English language book publishing on a global basis. HarperCollins’ principal businesses are HarperCollins Publishers LLC (HarperCollins U.S.), HarperCollins Publishers Limited and The Zondervan Corporation LLC. HarperCollins primarily publishes fiction and non-fiction, including religious books, for the general consumer. In the United Kingdom, HarperCollins publishes some titles for the educational market as well.
Other
The Company’s digital media businesses include MySpace, IGN Entertainment, Inc. (IGN), Fox Audience Network (FAN), and other Internet properties. These businesses develop and promote content and experiences for internet audiences and generate revenue through internet advertising, sponsorships, subscriptions and e-commerce. MySpace is a technology company enabling the discovery of content and people, and a platform for enabling audience development and direct fan communication for artists, including musicians, comedians, filmmakers and authors.
Other Operations
The Company operates Fox Mobile Group (FMB), which includes Jamba, an international provider of mobile entertainment, offering mobile products directly through mobile phones, including branded content from content providers globally. The content includes music, mobile games, video and original content made for use on mobile phones. News Digital Media is the Company’s Australian online division. In addition to maintaining the Company’s Australian Websites, News Digital Media is responsible for online advertising and transactions in Australia.
The Company competes with CNN, MSNBC, CNN Headline News, FT.com, New York Times Digital, TheStreet.com, Bloomberg, Forbes.com, Yahoo!Finance, CNET, CNN Money, MSNMoney/CNBC, Google Finance, Thomson Reuters, Bloomberg L.P., LexisNexis, Hoover’s, OneSource, Google, Microsoft, Yahoo!, FT.com, New York Times Digital, TheStreet.com, Forbes.com, Yahoo!Finance, CNET, CNN Money, MSNMoney/CNBC, Random House, Penguin Group, Simon & Schuster and Hachette Livre.
News Corp was created in 1979 by Rupert Murdoch as a holding company for News Limited. News Limited was created by Murdoch from the assets he inherited in 1952 following the death of his father, Sir Keith Murdoch, and subsequent expansion. The main asset left to him was ownership of the Adelaide afternoon tabloid, The News. News Limited operates today as News Corporation's Australian brand, operating out of Surry Hills, in Sydney.
News Ltd. made its first acquisition in the United States in 1973, when it purchased the San Antonio Express-News. Soon afterwards it founded the National Star, a supermarket tabloid, and in 1976 it purchased the New York Post.
In 1981 News Corp bought half of the movie studio 20th Century Fox, buying the other half in 1984. In 1985 News Corp announced it was buying the Metromedia group of stations, setting the stage for the launch of a fourth U.S. broadcast network. On September 4, 1985, Murdoch became a naturalized citizen to satisfy the legal requirement that only United States citizens could own American television stations. In 1986, the Metromedia deal closed, and the Fox Broadcasting Company was launched. This network, known on-screen as "Fox", can now be picked up in over 96% of U.S. households.
OVERALL
Beta: 1.53
Market Cap (Mil.): $47,414.47
Shares Outstanding (Mil.): 2,626.63
Annual Dividend: 0.15
Yield (%): 0.84
FINANCIALS
NWSA.O Industry Sector
P/E (TTM): 15.98 16.42 18.75
EPS (TTM): 99.91 -- --
ROI: 6.48 7.24 1.62
ROE: 11.02 12.59 2.48
Name Age Since Current Position
Murdoch, Keith 79 1991 Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer
Carey, Chase 56 2009 Deputy Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Operating Officer
DeVoe, David 63 1996 Chief Financial Officer, Senior Executive Vice President, Director
Murdoch, James 38 2011 Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Chairman and CEO - International Operations; Director
Ailes, Roger 70 2007 Chairman & CEO of FOX News Channel and FOX Business Network
Jacobs, Lawrence 55 2005 Senior Executive Vice President, Group General Counsel
Klein, Joel 55 2011 Executive Vice President - Office of the Chairman, Director
McKinley, John 53 2011 Chief Technology Officer; President of Technology for Digital Media Group
Siskind, Arthur 71 2005 Senior Advisor to the Chairman, Director
Eddington, Roderick 61 Lead Director
Cowley, Kenneth 75 1979 Director
Knight, Andrew 70 1991 Director
Murdoch, Lachlan 39 2005 Director
Perkins, Thomas 78 1996 Director
Barnes, Peter 66 2004 Director
Dinh, Viet 43 2004 Director
Thornton, John 57 2004 Director
Aznar, Jose 57 2006 Director
Bancroft, Natalie 30 2007 Director
COMPANY ADDRESS
News Corp
1211 Avenue of the Americas
New York NY 10036
News Corporation is a publicly traded company listed on the NASDAQ, with secondary listings on the Australian Securities Exchange. Formerly incorporated in South Australia, the company was re-incorporated under Delaware General Corporation Law after a majority of shareholders approved the move on November 12, 2004. At present, News Corporation is headquartered at 1211 Avenue of the Americas (Sixth Ave.), in New York City, in the newer 1960s-1970s corridor of the Rockefeller Center complex.
News Corporation is a diversified global media company. It has operations in eight segments: Filmed Entertainment, Television, Cable Network Programming, Direct Broadcast Satellite Television, Integrated Marketing Services, Newspapers and Information Services, Book Publishing, and Others. The Company’s activities are conducted in the United States, the United Kingdom, Continental Europe, Australia, Asia and Latin America. In April 2010, the Company completed the sale of bTV, its Bulgarian terrestrial television business, to Central European Media Enterprises (CME). In October 2008, the Company purchased VeriSign Inc.’s minority share of the Jamba joint venture increasing the Company’s interest to 100%. In February 2009, the Company, two newly incorporated subsidiaries of funds advised by Permira Advisers LLP (the Permira Newcos) and the Company’s then majority owned, publicly held subsidiary, NDS Group plc (NDS), completed a transaction pursuant to which all issued and outstanding NDS were acquired. As a result of the transaction, NDS ceased to be a public company and the Permira Newcos and the Company owns approximately 51% and 49% of NDS, respectively. In June 2010, the Company acquired Skiff, LLC. In April 2011, the Company acquired Shine Group.
Filmed Entertainment
The Company engages in the production and acquisition of live-action and animated motion pictures for distribution and licensing in all formats in all entertainment media globally, and the production and licensing of television programming globally. Fox Filmed Entertainment (FFE) produces, acquires and distributes motion pictures globally under a range of arrangements. The motion pictures of FFE are produced and/or distributed by Twentieth Century Fox and Fox 2000. In addition, Fox International Productions, Inc. co-produces and co-finances local-language motion pictures for distribution outside the United States.
Television
The Company is engaged in the operation of broadcast television stations and the broadcasting of network programming in the United States. Fox Television Stations, Inc. (Fox Television Stations) owns and operates 27 full power stations. It owns and operates two stations in the designated market areas (DMAs). FOX Broadcasting Company (FOX) has 203 FOX Affiliates, including the 17 stations owned and operated by the Company. FOX’s prime-time programming features such series as House, The Simpsons, Bones, Fringe and Glee; unscripted series, such as American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance, and various specials. National sports programming, such as the NFL, MLB and NASCAR programming, is obtained under license agreements with professional sports leagues or organizations. As of June 30, 2010, MyNetworkTV had 173 affiliates, including 10 affiliates owned by the Company, reaching approximately 94% of the United States households.
Cable Network Programming
The Company produces and licenses news, business news, sports, general entertainment and movie programming for distribution through cable television systems and direct broadcast satellite operators in the United States and internationally. FOX News owns and operates the FOX News Channel, a 24-hour all news national cable channel. It also produces a weekend political commentary show, FOX News Sunday, for broadcast on local FOX television stations throughout the United States. FOX News, through its FOX News Edge service, licenses news feeds to FOX Affiliates and other subscribers to use as part of local news broadcasts throughout the United States and abroad. FOX News also produces and runs the Websites, FOXNews.com and FOXBusiness.com, and owns and produces the national FOX News Radio Network, which licenses news updates, long form programs and the FOX News Talk Channel to local radio stations and to satellite radio providers.
Direct Broadcast Satellite Television
The Company engages in the direct broadcast satellite business through its subsidiary, SKY Italia. It also owns equity interests in BSkyB and Sky Deutschland AG (Sky Deutschland), which are engaged in the DBS business. SKY Italia distributes over 180 channels of basic, premium and pay-per-view programming services via satellite and broadband directly to subscribers in Italy. The programming includes rights to popular sporting events, newly-released movies and SKY Italia’s original programming, such as SKY TG 24, Italy’s first 24-hour news channel.
Integrated Marketing Services
News America Marketing Group (NAMG) publishes insert publications and provides in-store marketing products and services. It is a provider of in-store marketing products and services, primarily to consumer packaged goods manufacturers, with products in more than 55,000 supermarkets, drug stores, dollar stores, office supply stores and mass merchandisers globally. SmartSource is the brand name linked with NAMG’s assortment of marketing products, including, among others, free-standing inserts, NAMG’s instant coupon machines and various shelf advertising products.
The SmartSource iGroup manages NAMG’s portfolio of database marketing and on-line marketing products and services. The database marketing business, branded SmartSource Direct, provides database marketing and technology solutions for both retailers and manufacturers.
Newspapers and Information Services
The Company is engaged in the newspaper and information services business, primarily through its subsidiaries News International, News Limited, Dow Jones and The New York Post. News International Limited (News International) publishes The Times, The Sunday Times, The Sun and News of the World in the United Kingdom and Ireland. News International also publishes The Times Literary Supplement, a weekly literary review.
Book Publishing
HarperCollins Publishers (HarperCollins) is engaged in English language book publishing on a global basis. HarperCollins’ principal businesses are HarperCollins Publishers LLC (HarperCollins U.S.), HarperCollins Publishers Limited and The Zondervan Corporation LLC. HarperCollins primarily publishes fiction and non-fiction, including religious books, for the general consumer. In the United Kingdom, HarperCollins publishes some titles for the educational market as well.
Other
The Company’s digital media businesses include MySpace, IGN Entertainment, Inc. (IGN), Fox Audience Network (FAN), and other Internet properties. These businesses develop and promote content and experiences for internet audiences and generate revenue through internet advertising, sponsorships, subscriptions and e-commerce. MySpace is a technology company enabling the discovery of content and people, and a platform for enabling audience development and direct fan communication for artists, including musicians, comedians, filmmakers and authors.
Other Operations
The Company operates Fox Mobile Group (FMB), which includes Jamba, an international provider of mobile entertainment, offering mobile products directly through mobile phones, including branded content from content providers globally. The content includes music, mobile games, video and original content made for use on mobile phones. News Digital Media is the Company’s Australian online division. In addition to maintaining the Company’s Australian Websites, News Digital Media is responsible for online advertising and transactions in Australia.
The Company competes with CNN, MSNBC, CNN Headline News, FT.com, New York Times Digital, TheStreet.com, Bloomberg, Forbes.com, Yahoo!Finance, CNET, CNN Money, MSNMoney/CNBC, Google Finance, Thomson Reuters, Bloomberg L.P., LexisNexis, Hoover’s, OneSource, Google, Microsoft, Yahoo!, FT.com, New York Times Digital, TheStreet.com, Forbes.com, Yahoo!Finance, CNET, CNN Money, MSNMoney/CNBC, Random House, Penguin Group, Simon & Schuster and Hachette Livre.
News Corp was created in 1979 by Rupert Murdoch as a holding company for News Limited. News Limited was created by Murdoch from the assets he inherited in 1952 following the death of his father, Sir Keith Murdoch, and subsequent expansion. The main asset left to him was ownership of the Adelaide afternoon tabloid, The News. News Limited operates today as News Corporation's Australian brand, operating out of Surry Hills, in Sydney.
News Ltd. made its first acquisition in the United States in 1973, when it purchased the San Antonio Express-News. Soon afterwards it founded the National Star, a supermarket tabloid, and in 1976 it purchased the New York Post.
In 1981 News Corp bought half of the movie studio 20th Century Fox, buying the other half in 1984. In 1985 News Corp announced it was buying the Metromedia group of stations, setting the stage for the launch of a fourth U.S. broadcast network. On September 4, 1985, Murdoch became a naturalized citizen to satisfy the legal requirement that only United States citizens could own American television stations. In 1986, the Metromedia deal closed, and the Fox Broadcasting Company was launched. This network, known on-screen as "Fox", can now be picked up in over 96% of U.S. households.
OVERALL
Beta: 1.53
Market Cap (Mil.): $47,414.47
Shares Outstanding (Mil.): 2,626.63
Annual Dividend: 0.15
Yield (%): 0.84
FINANCIALS
NWSA.O Industry Sector
P/E (TTM): 15.98 16.42 18.75
EPS (TTM): 99.91 -- --
ROI: 6.48 7.24 1.62
ROE: 11.02 12.59 2.48
Name Age Since Current Position
Murdoch, Keith 79 1991 Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer
Carey, Chase 56 2009 Deputy Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Operating Officer
DeVoe, David 63 1996 Chief Financial Officer, Senior Executive Vice President, Director
Murdoch, James 38 2011 Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Chairman and CEO - International Operations; Director
Ailes, Roger 70 2007 Chairman & CEO of FOX News Channel and FOX Business Network
Jacobs, Lawrence 55 2005 Senior Executive Vice President, Group General Counsel
Klein, Joel 55 2011 Executive Vice President - Office of the Chairman, Director
McKinley, John 53 2011 Chief Technology Officer; President of Technology for Digital Media Group
Siskind, Arthur 71 2005 Senior Advisor to the Chairman, Director
Eddington, Roderick 61 Lead Director
Cowley, Kenneth 75 1979 Director
Knight, Andrew 70 1991 Director
Murdoch, Lachlan 39 2005 Director
Perkins, Thomas 78 1996 Director
Barnes, Peter 66 2004 Director
Dinh, Viet 43 2004 Director
Thornton, John 57 2004 Director
Aznar, Jose 57 2006 Director
Bancroft, Natalie 30 2007 Director
COMPANY ADDRESS
News Corp
1211 Avenue of the Americas
New York NY 10036