Much rides on the appearance of the Murdochs today. Word is that James Murdoch’s role as chairman of BSkyB depends on his performance today reassuring the non-News Corp shareholders in the company. Bloomberg News, hardly a sensationalist outfit, is even reporting that —remarkably— Rupert Murdoch could be replaced as CEO of News Corp after today.
Bloomberg’s story says that ‘News Corp. executives who watched Murdoch, 80, rehearse for his appearance had concerns about how he handled questions, according to three people, who weren’t authorized to speak publicly’. Certainly, there is concern in News International circles about how Murdoch will perform today. His Wall Street Journal interview last Friday when he railed against the ‘total lies’ told about News International suggested that he would like to take a far more confrontational line with his critics than would be advisable. There are also worries about his hearing and his curt, bordering on rude, way of answering questions.
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