Murdoch facing hacking allegations of a different kind
Rupert Murdoch could have been forgiven for thinking he had weathered the worst of the media brouhaha after sending his son packing but a fresh wave of allegations doing the rounds this morning ensure that the media mogul remains rooted to the front page.
The Guardian is reporting that in addition to phone hacking Murdoch can now add computer hacking to his growing list of transgressions following reports that a division of News Corp specialising in computer software had cracked the smart codes of ONdigital, its television rival in Britain.
These were subsequently distributed on a pirate website, The House of Ill Repute, undermining the stations funding model and forcing it to go under.
The revelations stem from a fresh batch of incriminating emails obtained by the BBC’s Panorama programme, which is set to air its findings tonight.
Commenting on the affair the guardian’s David Leigh said: “The allegations, if proved, cast further doubt on whether News Corp meets the "fit and proper" test required to run a broadcaster in Britain.”
In its editorial The Telegraph remarked: “If proven the allegations will cause even greater damage to the reputation Rupert Murdoch’s empire, and could leave the company facing questions over whether it funded piracy.
“If true the allegations would also cast fresh doubt on whether News Corporation meets the "fit and proper" test required to run a broadcaster in Britain.”