Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
On 20 September 1985, ITN's Alastair Burnet interviewed media mogul Rupert Murdoch in his New York office, two weeks after he became an American citizen in order to acquire interests in US television broadcasting. At the time of the interview, Murdoch controlled a rapidly expanding global media empire through News Corporation, with major holdings including The Times, The Sunday Times and The Sun in Britain, leading Australian newspapers, and the New York Post. Earlier in 1985 he had acquired the Hollywood studio 20th Century Fox, the beginning of a decisive move into the US television landscape. During the discussion, Murdoch criticised the BBC, ITV and the wider British television system, arguing that both were insufficiently responsive to the public and too insulated from commercial pressures. He suggested the BBC should be “a little more hand‑to‑mouth,” and less “arrogant” about what viewers wanted and more accountable to the audience.
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On 20 September 1985, ITN's Alastair Burnet interviewed media mogul Rupert Murdoch in his New York office, two weeks after he became an American citizen in order to acquire interests in US television broadcasting. At the time of the interview, Murdoch controlled a rapidly expanding global media empire through News Corporation, with major holdings including The Times, The Sunday Times and The Sun in Britain, leading Australian newspapers, and the New York Post. Earlier in 1985 he had acquired the Hollywood studio 20th Century Fox, the beginning of a decisive move into the US television landscape. During the discussion, Murdoch criticised the BBC, ITV and the wider British television system, arguing that both were insufficiently responsive to the public and too insulated from commercial pressures. He suggested the BBC should be “a little more hand‑to‑mouth,” and less “arrogant” about what viewers wanted and more accountable to the audience.
To license the footage featured in this clip, follow the link below:
gettyimages.co.uk/detail/video/rupert-murdoch-interview-usa-new-york-int2-shot-rupert-news-footage/1273822783?adppopup=true
To search the ITN Archive collection on Getty Images, follow the link below:
gettyimages.co.uk/footage/itn
🎥 Subscribe to our YouTube channel (tap the bell icon and stay up to date with all the latest ITN Archive videos!) - youtube.com/@FrontlinebyITN
🎥 Follow us on Twitter - twitter.com/ITNArchive
🎥 Like us on Facebook - facebook.com/ITNArchiveITNP
🎥 Check out our TikTok - tiktok.com/@itnarchive1955
