News Corporation (News Corp.): overview, history, assets and 2013 breakup

Origins and corporate changes

The company traces its origin to 1979 when Murdoch consolidated his media holdings under a single corporate structure in Adelaide, Australia. For many years it remained incorporated under South Australian commercial law. In 2004 shareholders approved re-incorporation in the United States, and News Corporation became a Delaware corporation with its operational base in New York. It was traded publicly on U.S. markets and Murdoch continued as chairman and chief executive officer through the next decade.

Major assets and operations

At its height, News Corporation controlled a broad range of well-known media brands. Its portfolio included legacy newspaper publishers in several countries, a major American business newspaper, large book publishing operations, and major television and film assets. These holdings gave the company a diversified footprint across print, broadcast and entertainment sectors and allowed cross-platform distribution of content.

• Newspapers and news publishers: national and regional newspapers in multiple countries and related news services.
• Broadcast and film: television networks and film studios that produced and distributed entertainment content globally.
• Publishing: major trade book publishing operations and educational imprints.
• Business media: internationally recognized business and financial journalism brands.

Controversies and corporate reorganisation

Like many large media groups, News Corporation attracted public attention and regulatory scrutiny for editorial practices and corporate governance. In the early 2010s, legal and public controversies in some of its news operations prompted internal reviews and external criticism. Against this background, company leadership announced a formal division of assets: operating businesses would be realigned to create clearer separations between publishing and broadcast/entertainment activities.

Split into two companies

On 28 June 2013 News Corporation completed a structural split that resulted in two independent, publicly traded companies. One retained primarily the film and television, cable and broadcast assets; the other was organized around newspapers, book publishing and other print and digital publishing businesses. The change was presented as a strategic move to allow each new company to pursue different capital structures and growth strategies suited to its markets.

Significance and legacy

News Corporation’s growth over several decades exemplified the consolidation trends in global media: cross-ownership across formats, international expansion, and integration of content creation and distribution. The company’s brands and business units continued under new ownership structures after 2013, while debates about media ownership, editorial standards and the role of large conglomerates in public life remained central to assessments of its legacy.

Selected links and references

• Mass media (overview)
• Corporate structure and organization
• Headquarters in New York City
• New York (state) context
• Revenue rankings and comparisons
• Origins in Adelaide
• Rupert Murdoch (biographical)
• South Australian corporate law
• Delaware incorporation
• Publicly traded company considerations
• NASDAQ and securities listing
• Corporate leadership and governance
• The Times (UK) example
• The Wall Street Journal and business news
• HarperCollins and book publishing
• Fox Entertainment Group (entertainment holdings)
• Broadcast networks and television channels
• 21st Century Fox (post-split)
• News Corp (new, post-2013)
• Publishing-focused businesses