Unsealed Nevada probate filings and attorney testimony indicate that Rupert Murdoch, then chairman of both Fox Corp and News Corp, explored a re‑merger of the two entities in 2022. The proposal, first raised in a draft letter to the boards of both companies, was abandoned after investors expressed opposition.
During a June hearing, Lachlan Murdoch’s lawyer argued that references to the 2022 merger discussion should remain sealed, describing the possibility as "something that still could happen in the future." Fox Corp later issued a statement confirming that the court records pertained to the 2022 consideration and that no merger talks have occurred since. News Corp echoed the comment.
The potential combination would have reunited Fox News, the broadcast network that carries NFL games, and the newspaper assets including the Wall Street Journal, the Sun and the New York Post under a single family‑controlled umbrella.
The filings also shed light on the broader succession dispute that has reshaped the Murdoch empire. In December 2023, the 93‑year‑old media magnate moved to amend the family trust, aiming to concentrate control of Fox and News Corp with his eldest son, Lachlan, while sidelining his other children. After a two‑year legal battle, the dispute was settled, with each of the three children—Prudence MacLeod, Elisabeth and James—receiving a $1.1 billion payout and relinquishing their trust stakes.
Fox Corp’s recent strategic activity includes a $22 billion acquisition of streaming platform Roku, announced in June, which adds access to more than 100 million households. The deal underscores Fox’s push to expand its digital reach amid the ongoing family restructuring.
Market reaction to the court disclosures was mixed. Fox shares fell 3.4% on the news, while News Corp stock rose 0.7%. The divergent moves reflect investor uncertainty about the feasibility of a future merger and confidence that News Corp may benefit from the settlement outcome.
The original split of the Murdoch empire in 2013 followed a UK phone‑hacking scandal involving the Sun newspaper. At that time, Rupert Murdoch separated the television assets from the newspaper holdings, a move that boosted the valuation of both businesses.
"Ram it through ... if necessary," a text from Rupert Murdoch to his daughter Elisabeth was cited in the documents after she questioned the re‑merger plan. In another exchange, Murdoch responded, "Sorry, Richard! This has been a family‑dominated business for 70 years," emphasizing his intent to keep control within the family.
The court documents were released after Reuters and other news organisations petitioned the probate commissioner for access, providing a rare glimpse into the internal deliberations of one of the world’s most influential media dynasties.
