Rupert Murdoch considering re-merger of Fox Corp and News Corp, court documents and video show

Rupert Murdoch and his son Lachlan Murdoch may be planning to merge Fox Corp and News Corp once again, according to unsealed court documents and testimony. The potential re-merger came to light in court proceedings during late July, after Murdoch expressed interest in combining the two companies after separating them less than ten years prior. In a letter addressed to both boards, Murdoch stated that the family trust would not vote for any other sale, merger, or similar transaction involving either company.

Murdoch's daughter Elisabeth raised concerns about the re-merger, and in response, Murdoch threatened to proceed with the merger if necessary. However, the merger ultimately failed due to investor opposition. Despite the failed attempt, there is a possibility that Murdoch could try to remerge the two companies again in the future.

If a merger were to take place, it would reunite various businesses within Murdoch's decreasing media empire, including Fox News, Fox broadcast (which airs NFL games), The Wall Street Journal, The Sun, and The New York Post. The merger would consolidate Fox's digital streaming platform, Roku, which has over 100 million subscribers.

The Murdoch family's rift began in December 2023 when Rupert Murdoch attempted to alter the family trust to give more control to his eldest son, Lachlan, excluding three of his other children. The dispute reached court, with the children eventually settling out of court. Murdoch's comments during a recent hearing revealed his reluctance to further consolidate his control, stating that such a move would be disastrous for the U.S. and Australia if the assets were to fall into the wrong hands.