News Corp's board back Murdoch (From Wharfedale Observer)

News Corp's board back Murdoch

7:38pm Wednesday 2nd May 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013

News Corporation's board has announced its full confidence in Rupert Murdoch's "fitness" and its support for him to remain at the helm of the company.

The directors' vote of confidence in the media mogul came after he was told in a report by a committee of MPs that he was "not a fit person" to run an international company.

The board of directors disagreed, issuing a statement saying he had "demonstrated resolve to address the mistakes of the company identified in the Select Committee's report".

The statement said: "The board of directors of News Corporation met today and announced its full confidence in Rupert Murdoch's fitness and support for his continuing to lead News Corporation into the future as its chairman and CEO.

"The board based its vote of confidence on Rupert Murdoch's vision and leadership in building News Corporation, his ongoing performance as chairman and CEO, and his demonstrated resolve to address the mistakes of the company identified in the select committee's report."

Satellite broadcaster BSkyB, which is 39%-controlled by News Corporation, insisted earlier it was still "a fit and proper licence-holder" as it remained under the glare of media regulator Ofcom.

The watchdog is considering whether BSkyB should hold a broadcast licence in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal at News International, which is owned by News Corp.

BSkyB, which revealed a net rise in customers of 78,000 to 10.5 million in the three months to March 31, hailed its "positive contribution to UK audiences, employment and the broader economy".

The phone-hacking scandal, which led to the closure of Sunday tabloid the News of the World, scuppered News Corp's plans to take full control of BSkyB and ultimately led to Mr Murdoch's son, James, stepping down as chairman of the broadcaster.

Elsewhere in the update, BSkyB said it had concluded a review of editorial practices at Sky News and "found no evidence of impropriety or cause for concern".