Rupert Murdoch
Latest
THE NEWS WRAP: Julia Gillard to reveal $12 billion budget blowout
4:17PM | Sunday, 28 AprilPrime Minister Julia Gillard is set to use a speech at the Per Capita Institute think tank in Canberra to reveal a $12 billion forecast deficit in the federal budget this financial year, due to lower taxes from companies. However, despite the massive shortfall, the Prime Minister is expected to rule out cuts to major new spending initiatives, including the Gonski school funding reforms or DisabilityCare. “Put simply, spending is controlled, but the amount of tax money coming to the government is growing much slower than expected. As we make those decisions, let me be crystal clear about what we will and won't do,” Gillard is set to say in the speech. “Our nation cannot afford to leave children behind or to leave our nation's future economy limping behind the pack, unable to attract the high-wage, high-skill jobs of the future … DisabilityCare must not be jeopardised.” Rupert Murdoch to cash in on News Corp split Rupert Murdoch’s remuneration is set to jump by nearly $4 million as a result of a split that will see News Corp divided into two separate companies in June. Under the proposal, Murdoch is set to become chairman and chief executive of the 21st Century Fox corporation, which will control his media empire’s broadcasting and entertainment assets, as well as the executive chairman of the “new News Corp” which will control the company’s publishing assets. While Murdoch’s base salary will remain at $US20.6 million for his role with both entities, his long-term incentives are set to increase from $US4 million to $US7.7 million. James Packer gains approval for Sri Lankan casino The Sri Lankan government has reportedly granted approval to gaming tycoon James Packer for a new casino in Colombo, according to a report in Sri Lanka's Business Times. Under the proposal, the $250 million Crown Colombo complex will include a 36-story casino and resort complex, to be built in the D.R. Wijewardena Mawatha district of Colombo. A Crown spokesperson said the gaming giant is yet to make a final decision on whether to go ahead with the project, and is evaluating a number of other offshore expansion opportunities. Overnight The Dow Jones Industrial Average is up 0.1% to 14712.6. The Aussie dollar is down to US102.82 cents.
Rupert Murdoch’s nephew backs celebrity chef recipe start-up Eatlove
4:03PM | Sunday, 21 AprilSydney-based start-up Eatlove has signed celebrity chefs such as Kylie Kwong and Matt Moran to its recipe website, having secured financial backing from Rupert Murdoch’s nephew. Eatlove, led by chief executive Mark Ashbridge (pictured below), describes itself as a “destination where food lovers can eat, cook and shop with inspiring chefs”. In essence, it encourages top Australian chefs to share and curate their favourite recipes and food knowledge directly with food enthusiasts online. Earlier this year, it was named Best Publisher at the AIMIA Awards. The business has announced a second partnership with food publisher Lantern, having already secured a deal with Murdoch Books, acquired by Allen & Unwin last year. Ashbridge is financially backed by Rupert Murdoch’s nephew Matt Handbury (pictured below), who sold Murdoch Books to Allen & Unwin. But that’s not the only big name Ashbridge has under his belt. Above: Matt Handbury. Eatlove says its partnership with Lantern, which takes effect in May, will increase the number of chef-authors to 50. Lantern, which is an imprint of Penguin Books, specialises in publishing high quality illustrated books, with a focus on food, travel, gardening, lifestyle, interior design and art. It will bring celebrity chefs such as Kylie Kwong, Maggie Beer, Manu Feildel, Tobie Puttock, Matt Moran, George Calombaris and Gary Mehigan to Eatlove. Eatlove is seeking to raise around half a million dollars to fund the second iteration of the website and will consider globalising the content by introducing more international chefs. Above: Mark Ashbridge. Ashbridge, whose background is in music and publishing, told StartupSmart he came up with the Eatlove concept whilst working at Murdoch Books, where he served as head of digital. “My background is music and I noticed quite a lot of correlation between the two industries. Music is undergoing quite a lot through disruption,” he says. “With food, the same thing is happening. The physical books are still selling well but getting harder to sell, and a lot of consumers are going online for their content. “At the same time, [Murdoch Books asked me to] start developing a concept with food exclusively online… It was about challenging the status quo. “I wanted to do it in a way that was premium, and I also wanted to do it in a way that differentiates itself from recipe databases. Above: Gary Mehigan and George Calombaris. “It’s way more kind of curational and way more kind of celebrity or expert-orientated.” Ashbridge, who left Murdoch Books to set up Eatlove as a standalone business, admits getting celebrity chefs on board only came “with a lot of hard work”. “The value for us was in developing great working relationships with publishers who have created the content, namely Murdoch Books initially and Allen & Unwin, which got Murdoch, and also Lantern,” Ashbridge says. “It was two steps really – developing and showcasing the website to the publisher, who develops and owns the [chefs’] content, and working very close with the chefs. “What Eatlove should grow to be is something of a marketing channel for them.”
COSBOA claims anti-discrimination laws could "vilify" entrepreneurs
3:09AM | Monday, 11 MarchThe Council of Small Business Organisations of Australia has slammed the federal government's proposed anti-discrimination legislation on the basis it does not protect small business and vilifies small business owners.
Forbes names most powerful people – who can you learn from?
3:49AM | Monday, 11 MarchUS President Barack Obama might be the world’s most powerful person, according to Forbes, but there’s a handful of entrepreneurs on this year’s list for start-ups to draw inspiration from.
Start with a business
11:54AM | Thursday, 8 NovemberI have been thinking long and hard about what the goal of launching a new business should be. And to be honest, I’m not sure if my conclusion is profound or just completely obvious.
Don’t swap a business model for hype
10:17AM | Friday, 26 OctoberDuring the first wave of internet start-ups in the 1990s, a majority of the businesses being created actually had business models.
THE NEWS WRAP: Swan signals cuts to come if budget surplus aim is to be achieved
3:46AM | Tuesday, 12 MarchFederal Treasurer Wayne Swan has warned that further savings are needed if the government is to achieve its projected $1.5 billion surplus, amid challenges such as changing consumer behaviour and the high Australian dollar.
THE NEWS WRAP: News Corp separation pains bring $1.46 billion loss
8:19PM | Wednesday, 8 AugustNews Corporation has posted a massive $1.46 billion loss in the fourth quarter, writing down the value of its global publishing empire, including its Australian newspapers.
Five leading entrepreneurs’ worst stuff-ups
8:45AM | Tuesday, 7 AugustHaving a big name involved in your start-up is likely to draw investor and media attention to your business, but it’s unlikely to sustain it in the long term.
THE NEWS WRAP: Mining boom set to end in two years: Report
7:20PM | Sunday, 22 JulyAustralia’s mining boom will end in just two years, with the Federal Government set to struggle to get the budget back to surplus this year, a new report has predicted.
THE NEWS WRAP: Banks called on to pass on rate cut
5:19PM | Tuesday, 1 MayBusiness industry groups are calling on the big banks to pass on yesterday’s Reserve Bank 50 basis point interest rate cut.
THE NEWS WRAP: Finance minister Penny Wong denies government pressure on RBA to cut rates
4:22PM | Thursday, 19 AprilFederal finance minister Penny Wong has denied that the Prime Minister is putting pressure on the Reserve Bank to cut rates, insisting that the Government’s focus is returning Australia to surplus.
THE NEWS WRAP: Murdoch to “hit back” over sabotage allegations
3:19PM | Thursday, 29 MarchNews Corporation chairman Rupert Murdoch has indicated he is preparing to “hit back” at what he describes as the “lies” directed towards his business.
Rupert Murdoch: Follow him on to Twitter
3:46AM | Monday, 11 MarchBy now you’ve probably heard about Rupert Murdoch joining Twitter, but if you haven’t been following his Tweets then hurry up – it’s incredibly entertaining and more than a little thought provoking.
Top 10 PR disasters
5:44AM | Wednesday, 2 MayJust two weeks ago, Airbnb appeared to be on an unstoppable rise to the top. The business had expanded internationally, including Australia, and had raised $112 million in funding.
Rupert Murdoch’s top 10 entrepreneurial moves
5:38AM | Wednesday, 2 MayRupert Murdoch could’ve eased into a well-heeled retirement in the past decade, quietly slipping away to one of his many properties and handing over the reins to son James, who, until the past two weeks, appeared to be his heir apparent.
Mapping the Eureka moment
7:49AM | Thursday, 21 JulyWhere do good ideas come from? Many entrepreneurs vaguely cite flashes of inspiration for their businesses, but it is possible to identify a process to idea generation.
Devise a system for reporting bad behaviour
7:43AM | Wednesday, 25 JulyThis article first appeared on July 20, 2011. The startling fact to come out of the News Corporation hacking scandal from a management point of view is the lack of information that was apparently reaching to top levels of the company.
THE NEWS WRAP: Murdoch abandons BSkyB bid
7:34PM | Wednesday, 13 JulyRupert Murdoch has pulled the plug on the attempted takeover of UK broadcaster BSkyB in the wake of the phone hacking scandal that has engulfed his media empire.
I’ve read a lot about email being dead as a marketing tool. Is this true?
4:49AM | Friday, 1 AprilThe statement "email is dead as a marketing tool" is too broad to really take seriously, so let's instead break it down into its components.
