Liberty Media's pitch to reunite Turner, team seems to be fouling out
Liberty Media Corp. chairman John Malone said Wednesday evening that if the company acquires the Atlanta Braves, it's unlikely former Braves owner Ted Turner will get involved.
"I don't believe he's interested," Malone said after a keynote speech at a fundraiser for the University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center Business School.
Malone said he hadn't talked to Turner about the Braves since saying publicly last week that he would like to have Turner, a close friend, join the mix if Liberty acquires the team.
Liberty, based in Douglas County, is pursuing the Braves as part of a deal with team owner Time Warner Inc.
"We certainly would enjoy owning the Braves and watching them come to Denver and win," Malone told a crowd of about 600, including Frontier Airlines chief Jeff Potter, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and CU president Hank Brown, at the Hyatt Regency Denver at the Colorado Convention Center.
Malone also praised the business vision of Rupert Murdoch, chairman of News Corp. Liberty is battling News Corp. over the company's poison-pill provision, which could restrain Liberty from increasing its 18 percent voting stake in News Corp.
"Rupert Murdoch is absolutely one of my biggest heroes," Malone said during his remarks.
Malone highlighted News Corp.'s acquisition of MySpace.com, an online social network that claims tens of millions of users.
Malone said Liberty is interested in building a similar online community but "in the game space."
The company recently acquired 51 percent of Fun Technologies, an online gaming company, for $195 million.
Malone also gave his views on three public issues:
The growing indebtedness of the United States.
"We've gone from the largest creditor nation in the world to the largest debtor nation in the world."
The loss of American technological leadership.
"The flow of technology out of America and into the rest of the world is scary."
A lack of focus from political leaders. Malone said they're "involved in petty fights for power" when they should focus on issues like immigration and energy.
http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_3835439
Liberty Media Corp. chairman John Malone said Wednesday evening that if the company acquires the Atlanta Braves, it's unlikely former Braves owner Ted Turner will get involved.
"I don't believe he's interested," Malone said after a keynote speech at a fundraiser for the University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center Business School.
Malone said he hadn't talked to Turner about the Braves since saying publicly last week that he would like to have Turner, a close friend, join the mix if Liberty acquires the team.
Liberty, based in Douglas County, is pursuing the Braves as part of a deal with team owner Time Warner Inc.
"We certainly would enjoy owning the Braves and watching them come to Denver and win," Malone told a crowd of about 600, including Frontier Airlines chief Jeff Potter, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and CU president Hank Brown, at the Hyatt Regency Denver at the Colorado Convention Center.
Malone also praised the business vision of Rupert Murdoch, chairman of News Corp. Liberty is battling News Corp. over the company's poison-pill provision, which could restrain Liberty from increasing its 18 percent voting stake in News Corp.
"Rupert Murdoch is absolutely one of my biggest heroes," Malone said during his remarks.
Malone highlighted News Corp.'s acquisition of MySpace.com, an online social network that claims tens of millions of users.
Malone said Liberty is interested in building a similar online community but "in the game space."
The company recently acquired 51 percent of Fun Technologies, an online gaming company, for $195 million.
Malone also gave his views on three public issues:
The growing indebtedness of the United States.
"We've gone from the largest creditor nation in the world to the largest debtor nation in the world."
The loss of American technological leadership.
"The flow of technology out of America and into the rest of the world is scary."
A lack of focus from political leaders. Malone said they're "involved in petty fights for power" when they should focus on issues like immigration and energy.
http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_3835439
