Don't Bet Against Rupert Murdoch! 10 Reasons Why You Will Lose! - Steve Blacker - MediaBizBloggers

1. Rupert is the last of a vanishing breed. A media mogul who has made his fortune by taking risks no other media corporation might have even ever contemplated let alone taken.

2. He is fearless, unpredictable and much smarter today than he has ever been. Murdoch understands mass media, entertainment and consumer demand far better with his gut than others do with massive research and endless focus groups.

3. He is willing to invest unlimited resources to back something he believes in i.e. Sky Channel, Fox, Fox News, Wall Street Journal, New York Post, etc. The financial people may influence him somewhat but they do not control him.

4. While many may wonder why he has stayed with the New York Post for so long. The paper has become a major force in New York City, whether you agree with its editorials, etc. or not. Page Six, the business section and Keith Kelly are must reads for most key executives in media today.

5. Rupert's investment in the Wall Street Journal will pay off big time. Already the Journal is a much more interesting read. His investment in creating a NY Metro 14-page section to go against the venerable NY Times is a typical Murdoch move. He knows that the NY Times is in a downward spiral with out of touch and incompetent management. The NYT is staff bloated worldwide and morale is low. All this creates a perfect storm opportunity.

6. Ironically, the more ads the NYT runs against the WSJ's NY Metro coverage the more attention they focus on the WSJ to potential advertisers. Murdoch's top sales and marketing executives are savvy and successful street fighters. The NYT's folks are still trying to get used to the fact that they are not an automatic buy anymore nor getting the huge transom schedules they once had.

7. Because Murdoch is unpredictable, extremely smart, cunning and has unlimited resources he can easily outlast and out maneuver the NYT.

8. Given all of Newscorp's many assets probably its strongest and most valuable brand is Rupert himself. Given his family's longevity, his mother just turned 100 and is still quite sharp, Murdoch seems to age like a fine wine. While many in the media and entertainment business are moaning and complaining about how tougher the business has become according to insiders Rupert has never been happier.

9. As most media and entertainment companies are trying to figure out how to deal with today's tsunami-like new business model and over impacted consumer Murdoch is not afraid to try, acquire or invest in new approaches. If only some work he's still way ahead of the pack. If something fails he's not embarrassed to walk away and admit a mistake.

10. Murdoch thrives on challenges and gets bored when it's business as usual. His thought process is quite different than a typical or traditional CEO. If there is but one chance in a hundred of making something work; Rupert will figure it out.

Steve's new book You Can't Fall Off The Floor - The Insiders' Guide to Re-Inventing Yourself and Your Career chronicles his 50 year career working for over 25 different companies with 189 lessons learned and insider tips from Gayle King, Cathie Black, Chuck Townsend and 28 others; Blacker is still going strong today as a partner in Frankfurt & Blacker Solutions, LLC. His web site is blacker-reinventions.com and e-mail address is blackersolutions@aol.com

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