Rupert Murdoch, chief executive of News Corp. (Nasdaq: NWSA) , which, among other things, controls Fox and its affiliated broadcast and cable networks, is probably no friend of American Cable Association President-CEO Matt Polka. Unlike Polka, Murdoch is an unabashed fan of retransmission fees for over-the-air television, which he listed as one of the company's successes in a letter to shareholders.
In the wide-ranging letter, mostly aimed at explaining his fears about the still suffering economy, Murdoch linked retransmission fees with the uber-popular movie Avatar as successes for the News Corp. empire. He also supported the company's decision to make Fox programming available to Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) new TV venture for 99 cent a la carte rentals.
"Companies that do not innovate will struggle to survive," Murdoch wrote. "They will be digitally disoriented, quickly losing touch with their customers who will be more technologically literate than those who seek to provide them with services and products."
For more:
- see this story
Related articles:
Apple prepared to branch into a la carte programming with News Corp. and Disney
All sides weigh in, none happily, on must-carry/retransmission issue