The follow-up drama to Rupert Murdoch from real life is also impressive
Fans of the award-winning HBO series Succession will be pleased to know that Series 4 will return to our TV screens in early 2023 and that a teaser for the highly anticipated drama was released last week.
or those who don’t know, the fictional series tells the story of the completely unlikable Roy siblings, the sons and daughter of patriarchal and equally unctuous villain and media mogul Logan Roy.
In the three series so far, their plot-changing quest to succeed their father while they outdo each other in the art of ambush is a matter of pure ferocity and utter delight.
Although media observers were quick to point out the many similarities between the Roy family and that of Rupert Murdoch, the series’ creators have claimed that they are purely coincidental.
Instead, the inspiration for the storylines and the manipulative misfits was drawn from a cast of characters who happen to be wealthy, privileged, and possessed of a sense of entitlement greater than the many mansions they inhabit.
But the Roys and the Murdochs have a number of similarities. Not only are both families in their final years run by self-made, cunning and ruthless dealmakers, but they also preside over media empires that span multiple continents and wield considerable political power and influence. Then there’s the billion-dollar question of who will succeed Daddy when he’s gone.
For now, while HBO could well be considering a fifth series, no spoiler warnings needed when it comes to speculating on the future of the Murdoch siblings – Lachlan, James, Elisabeth and Prudence – who are at the heart of a sizable follow-up stood conjecture for many years.
How it will all play out is unclear, but much will depend on Murdoch Senior’s desire to reunite Fox Corporation with News Corporation, an idea he first aired publicly two weeks ago.
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Rupert Murdoch, Chairman of News Corp. Photo: Drew Angerer
The two companies originally went their separate ways in 2013. At the time it made sense. One was a jittery and fast-growing broadcasting giant lashing out at the media elite in the US. News Corp, on the other hand, was home to an old printing company that printed newspaper titles such as The Sunday Timesthe New York Post and The Wall Street Journal.
By splitting into two companies, both could grow independently without hindering each other. But print had also begun to decline, and there were fears this could drag both companies down at a time when traditional media companies were beginning to see advertisers reallocating money into digital media.
A lot has happened since then, and while Murdoch ended up selling sizable broadcast assets to Disney and Comcast, both companies have grown and become very profitable.
A merged global company – which would include a number of radio stations in Ireland – would have likely sales in excess of €25 billion and net profits in excess of €2 billion a year.
That’s enough to focus recalcitrant shareholders, but also indifferent and distant siblings.
The smart money lies with firstborn son Lachlan, 51, who is currently in the main driver’s seat and seems keen to consolidate his power. In addition to being Executive Chairman and CEO of Fox, he is also Co-Chairman of News Corp.
But the Murdoch family isn’t like any normal family and Lachlan’s ambitions, like Kendall Roy’s, are in successorare never more than a wave away from the top job.
In the post-Rupert era, that may change as dormant family feuds resurface.
Some family watchers say that the day Rupert sheds his mortal remains is the day Lachlan receives his marching orders from his family.
But don’t write Murdoch senior out of the plot just yet. Despite being 91 and in hiding during the pandemic, he’s as energetic as ever and now with another woman downstairs, he seems keen to tweak his ultimate legacy with one, possibly two more deals.
The final chapter in both follow-up dramas will certainly be interesting.
Under the tree at Spar
With the official start of the Christmas advertising season, convenience retail group Spar has launched its first new Christmas campaign in 10 years. The campaign, created by Publicis Dublin, is called ‘Finding Christmas’ and is a nod to the retailer’s award-winning 2012 campaign entitled ‘Finding Trees’.
The new Christmas campaign is part of a €1.2 million investment made by the retailer across TV, video-on-demand and in-store.
BBDO is completely in love
BBDO Dublin won the People’s Choice Award as well as the Bronze Award at the 12th Annual Lovie Awards, held last week.
The awards are organized by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences (IADAS) and this year nearly 1,000 entries were submitted from over 30 countries.
The Sandymount-based agency won the two awards for its Road Safety-Verse campaign on behalf of the Road Safety Authority (RSA).
https://www.independent.ie/business/media/rupert-murdochs-real-life-succession-drama-is-also-compelling-viewing-42120090.html The follow-up drama to Rupert Murdoch from real life is also impressive