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6 News Corporation
A Letter from Rupert Murdoch
Every step we
have taken has
been guided
by a strategy
designed to build
on our greatest
strength: the
creation and
distribution of
the world’s most
sought-after
news, sports and
entertainment.
These numbers are impressive, and I am proud of them. I’m even more proud
of the people behind the figures. News Corporation leads because we attract and
retain experienced and talented people who have proven themselves exceptionally
prescient in determining consumer tastes and expectations.
At FOX News, for example, Roger Ailes and his team have built television’s
undisputed news leader – not just in cable network news, but in all television
news. Later this calendar year, FOX News will celebrate its fifteenth anniversary,
and I couldn’t be more pleased with its success. Over at the FOX Business Network
our ratings are improving – and at certain times of the day we’re head to head
with CNBC, and sometimes beating them. In these tough economic times more
and more people on Main Street look to Fox Business for guidance, and with
more distribution we will continue to grow our ratings.
Our FX cable channel also showed impressive strength and is on track to deliver its
most-watched calendar year in its history, with viewer growth in key demographics
far surpassing its general entertainment competitors. Our Fox Sports Networks,
Fox Soccer and the Big Ten Network have all become leaders in their fields. Fox
Deportes was the number one-rated Spanish cable sports network in prime time.
Across the globe, our Fox International Channels (FIC) operate in 41 languages in
144 countries, mostly under the Fox and National Geographic brands, which are
growing apace. In fact, FIC surpassed one billion viewing subscribers at the end of
the fiscal year. Already FIC is registering growth rates that equal or exceed those
in the U.S. particularly in markets such as Latin America and Asia. What all
these places have in common is a burgeoning consumer class hungry for the quality
products we deliver.
One such area where we have quality assets in a market with very attractive growth
prospects is India. STAR India is now that nation’s leading pay-TV platform in both
viewer numbers and advertising revenue share – in Hindi and non-Hindi markets
alike. The talented men and women at STAR India have taken great steps to unlock
subscription value in that vast and diverse region. They illustrate just one of the
many ways News Corporation brings unique, competitive strengths to drive growth.
Strong Television Performance
Turning to our Television segment, profits tripled. Fox Broadcasting Company
benefited not only from improving advertising trends overall, but also from
a carefully selected slate of immensely popular shows, as well as world-class sports
and event programming like the newly reinvigorated American Idol, which saw
5 percent viewership increases.
FOX Sports remained number one for the fourteenth consecutive year. In February,
we made history when the Super Bowl on FOX became the most-watched U.S.
television program ever, with an average audience of 111 million viewers.