Murdoch son takes bigger Fox role

RUPERT Murdoch's eldest son, Lachlan, has taken on added responsibility at the ratings-challenged Fox TV network in the US following the sudden departure of chairman Sandy Grushow.

Grushow, who many suspect is taking the blame for Fox's dismal start to the ratings season, quit yesterday to start a TV production company called Phase Two.

Adding to Murdoch's woes are reports suggesting his second-in-command, Fox Group chairman and chief executive Peter Chernin, has been in secret talks about replacing Michael Eisner as Disney chairman and chief exec when the latter's contract expires in 2006.

The upheaval has forced Lachlan to take a more active role in the day-to-day running of Fox, which has still not replaced its TV station head Mitchell Stern who has taken the reins at DirecTV. Lachlan is already deputy chief operating officer at News Corp.

The 35-station Fox network, 82% owned by News Corp, made an estimated US$400m (£220m) profit last year on the strength of series such as American Idol and The Simpsons. But ratings have slumped after its most heavily-hyped shows bombed.

Asked recently if anyone would be held accountable for Fox's ratings slump halfway through the season, Rupert Murdoch said: 'Around here, everybody is held accountable. I am held accountable. The buck stops with me.''