Press: America's Newest Video Baron

Murdoch buys a budding network and seeks U.S. citizenship

Television and newspaper historians, take note: the date that Australian Press Baron Rupert Murdoch, whose holdings span three continents, set in motion the negotiations that would alter his empire (not to mention his passport) is March 28, 1985. Murdoch was paying his first visit to the Hollywood studios of 20th Century-Fox, half of which he had just bought from Denver Oil Tycoon Marvin Davis. As it happened, John Kluge, the billionaire chieftain of Metromedia Inc., was also on the lot that day to attend an investment conference.

Murdoch and Kluge, already friends, exchanged pleasantries; before long, Kluge was sounding out Murdoch...

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