Rupert Murdoch is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of 21st Century Fox, the world's premier portfolio of cable, broadcast, film, pay TV and satellite assets spanning six continents across the globe.
In 1986, the Company created the Fox Television Stations group, which now comprises 28 stations across the U.S. and served as the foundation for the launch of FOX Broadcasting Company — and with it an unprecedented fourth American broadcast network.
Since its launch, FOX has revolutionized the television landscape with groundbreaking shows such as The Simpsons, The X-Files, and American Idol, among others. In 1994, the Company acquired rights to National Football League (NFL) games, and formed FOX Sports, which is now the world's leading sports broadcaster. In October 1996, the Company launched FOX News Channel, which in 2013 will complete its 12th consecutive year as the nation's most-watched cable news channel.
The Company has also successfully established some of the U.S. and the world's most popular cable networks, including a collection of more than 20 regional Fox Sports cable networks, FX and the National Geographic Channels. In the past 12 months, the Company has launched several new channels, including FXX, FXM, Fox Sports 1 and Fox Sports 2. 21st Century Fox is the major shareholder in British Sky Broadcasting, the U.K.'s first satellite broadcasting operation, which launched in 1989 and is and regarded as the world's most successful direct-to-home satellite broadcaster. The Company also owns Italy's leading pay-TV platform, SKY Italia and has a majority interest in Germany's Sky Deutschland. And through its ownership of STAR, the No. 1 television network in India, 21st Century Fox provides a variety of top-rated local programming services in general entertainment, film, music and sports to more than 500 million viewers in India and across Asia every week.
Mr. Murdoch has been awarded the Companion of the Order of Australia (A.C.) for services to the media, and he and his family have been closely involved with, and made generous contributions to various educational, cultural, and medical charitable organizations throughout the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Asia and Israel.
Rupert Murdoch was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2014.
