News Corp. executives didn't spend a lot of time discussing their proposed takeover of Hughes and DirecTV during a conference call highlighting the company's latest fiscal quarter, but Chairman Rupert Murdoch talked about personal video recorders and their future with DirecTV if and when News Corp. takes over the satellite TV service.
At issue is whether News Corp. would stick with DirecTV's partner TiVo or go with digital recording technology from NDS, News Corp.'s TV technology unit, once the DirecTV transaction is complete. Nothing has been determined, Murdoch said late Wednesday, but "It's something we are looking at closely.
"We admire TiVo. We also admire the success of NDS," he said. "We may offer both. But we have made no decision on that yet."
News Corp.'s effort to take a controlling stake in DirecTV and Hughes is before regulators in Washington, D.C. Most expect a decision concerning the transaction by the end of the year.
The media giant reported strong results for its fiscal first quarter. During the three-month period, News Corp. posted a net profit of $422 million, compared to $162 million reported during the same period last year.
