Murdoch-Owned News Outlets: Who Runs What in UK Media?

Ever noticed how so many headlines in the UK sound kind of similar? That’s not just a weird coincidence. Rupert Murdoch, one of the most powerful media bosses on the planet, owns a bunch of the biggest news outlets in Britain. If you’ve read The Sun or The Times, you’ve basically read Murdoch’s words—well, with a British twist.

Knowing which papers and channels are under one person’s control matters way more than most people think. When you’re reading the morning paper or scrolling news on your phone, who’s actually calling the shots? Understanding this helps you spot bias, figure out what stories are being left out, and decide where you want to get your news.

• Rupert Murdoch: The Man Behind the Media
• Murdoch-Owned Newspapers in the UK
• TV Channels and Digital Platforms
• How Murdoch's Ownership Affects News
• Looking Beyond the Murdoch Empire

Rupert Murdoch: The Man Behind the Media

Rupert Murdoch isn’t just a name you see in passing headlines—he’s probably the most famous media tycoon in the world. Born in Australia in 1931, Murdoch inherited his dad’s small newspaper business when he was just 22. Flash forward to today, his empire stretches from the UK to the US and way beyond. Forbes listed him as worth over $19 billion in 2024.

In the UK alone, Murdoch’s reach is massive. He’s best known here through his company, News UK (used to be called News International). His businesses crank out millions of papers every week and pull in tons of followers online. His influence is so strong that politicians try hard not to get on his bad side—every UK prime minister since Margaret Thatcher has met with Murdoch at some point.

Here are a few quick facts to wrap your head around how big his influence really is:

• Murdoch controls some of the UK’s best-selling newspapers.
• He was behind major TV brands like Sky (he sold most of his stake in 2018).
• His companies have faced scandals—like the phone hacking mess in 2011—that rocked the media scene.

Just to put things in perspective, check out these numbers:

So when you pick up a Murdoch paper, you’re reading news that comes from the world’s top media mogul. That matters whether you agree with his style or not. If you ever wonder why certain headlines get pushed or why a story seems to have a particular twist, remember who’s at the top. The Murdoch brand is everywhere in the British news world.

Murdoch-Owned Newspapers in the UK

If you’ve picked up a newsstand tabloid or a broadsheet in the UK, chances are, you’ve come across the Murdoch brand without even knowing it. Rupert Murdoch’s company, News UK (formerly News International), has its fingerprints all over some of the most read newspapers in Britain. It’s not just one or two—he owns some of the biggest names out there.

Here’s the main lineup of Murdoch-owned UK newspapers as of 2025:

• The Sun: Famous for its bold headlines and cheeky stories, The Sun is the best-selling daily tabloid in the UK. It’s got a huge online presence too, with millions of digital readers every month.
• The Sun on Sunday: This is basically The Sun’s weekend version. After the News of the World was shut down in 2011, The Sun on Sunday jumped in to take its spot, mixing celebrity news, sports, and big exclusives.
• The Times: If you prefer your news with fewer puns, The Times is Murdoch’s broadsheet option. It’s been around forever—since 1785, actually—and is known for detailed reporting and analysis.
• The Sunday Times: Every Sunday, this paper dives deeper into politics, investigations, lifestyle, and everything people want for a longer weekend read. It’s famous for big, splashy investigations.

Here’s a look at their reach, based on 2024 numbers:

Murdoch doesn’t just slap his name on the masthead and walk away. Editorial decisions, political coverage, and even how stories are presented can be influenced from the top. If you’re wondering why these papers often have a similar angle on big events, that’s no accident—it’s part of the strategy.

Quick tip: if you ever find yourself getting the same news vibe across multiple papers, double-check who owns them. It usually explains a lot about the coverage and spin.

TV Channels and Digital Platforms

When people think of Murdoch’s influence, newspapers get most of the attention. But his reach goes well beyond ink and paper. In the UK, the most famous Murdoch-linked TV brand was Sky. Murdoch’s company, through News Corporation and later 21st Century Fox, was a big player behind Sky’s launch. For years, his grip on Sky News made headlines of its own. But in 2018, he sold his final Sky shares to Comcast, closing that chapter.

Right now, you won’t find a Murdoch-controlled TV station in the UK like you did with Sky News. That’s important to know—he’s switched his focus. Instead, digital is where he’s betting big. His main online news brands, just like the print versions, are:

• The Sun Online – Known for its bold headlines and celebrity scoops, the digital Sun gets millions of hits from screens big and small.
• The Times and The Sunday Times – Their websites require subscriptions for most stories. The paywall move made them stand out in an age of free news overload.

He doesn’t stop there. Murdoch’s News UK picked up radio stations too. TalkTV, a fairly new digital channel, launched in 2022. If you’re on YouTube or social media, you’ve probably seen TalkTV clips—Piers Morgan’s show gets shared all over the place. The channel’s shows are available live online, broadcast on Freeview and satellite, and chopped into clips across digital platforms. Even podcasting isn’t off-limits: The Times and The Sun both pump out regular shows, mixing news and opinion for listeners in a hurry.

For anyone curious about media power, the shift from old-school TV to digital shows how Murdoch adapts to changing habits. Gone are the days when a single TV network could sway the country—today, it’s all about clicks, streams, and shares. So if you’re wondering where Murdoch’s influence lands in 2025, it’s less about channel numbers on your telly and more about the apps and sites you use every day.

How Murdoch's Ownership Affects News

Rupert Murdoch's grip on some of the UK's top news outlets isn't just a trivia point—it's a real force that shapes what ends up on page one and even what stories never make it to print. His company, News UK (previously News International), runs Murdoch's biggest UK titles like The Sun, The Times, and The Sunday Times. That means one person has a surprising amount of sway over what millions of Brits read, whether they’re just glancing at headlines or diving deep into Sunday features.

Let’s keep it concrete: Murdoch-owned tabloids like The Sun have been famously loud with their support for certain political parties. In the 1992 and 2010 general elections, The Sun’s front pages went all-in to push for their preferred candidates. You can't ignore the pattern—when these papers make bold endorsements, there’s usually a bump for whoever they back. Over the years, politicians have openly admitted they court Murdoch’s editors, just to get more favorable coverage.

The editorial direction at these outlets often lines up with Murdoch’s personal views on policy, immigration, and business. And if you think it’s just about politics, think again—stories about celebrities, scandals, and big cultural moments also get filtered through what the bosses think will stick with readers and advertisers.

Another effect is that some important issues get a ton of play, while others fly under the radar. During big events, like Brexit, Murdoch papers led with punchy pro-leave headlines. On the flip side, criticism of certain big businesses or political allies rarely gets much traction. For readers, this means it’s easy to fall into an echo chamber where only certain opinions or facts get airtime.

If you want to dodge these traps, a lot of media experts suggest checking stories across different outlets—including ones not owned by Murdoch. It's the only real way to spot angles and stories that might be downplayed or blown out of proportion. Bottom line: knowing who owns your news means you can read smarter, not just faster.

Looking Beyond the Murdoch Empire

Just because Rupert Murdoch owns some of the loudest voices in UK news doesn’t mean that’s the whole story. If you’re on the lookout for different angles, you’ve actually got plenty of options. The BBC, for example, is owned by the public and operates under tight rules about being neutral. That’s why it’s still one of the most trusted sources for straight-up news in surveys conducted by Ofcom.

Then there’s The Guardian, which isn’t run by a single tycoon. Instead, it’s controlled by the Scott Trust, set up to make sure the paper stays independent and focused on real journalism, not shareholder profits. The i newspaper also tries to keep its distance from big ownership drama—it’s owned by Daily Mail and General Trust now, but it still sets itself apart with shorter, fact-driven stories, even if it’s got its own quirks. Local news is a whole other world, with titles like the Manchester Evening News and Liverpool Echo—owned by Reach Plc—still giving people community coverage Murdoch’s papers will never touch.

The digital world’s full of choices, too. You can check out smaller online sources like The Independent (fully digital since 2016, now in the hands of Alexander Lebedev’s family trust) or even highly opinionated startups like Byline Times, which are crowdfunded and love to challenge the big players. Plus, news aggregators like Apple News or Google News mix it all together, letting you build your own view of what’s really happening.

Curious about ownership breakdowns? Here’s a quick comparison of major UK outlets and their owners:

Here’s a tip: If you want a bigger mix of opinions, try reading a few stories on the same topic from outlets with different backgrounds. Sometimes you’ll spot what’s missing—or what gets hyped up—in one outlet compared to another. That’s how you break out of echo chambers and get the real news. Don’t be afraid to look past the front page, either. Sometimes the most useful stuff is buried deeper or in a smaller publication. You never really know what’s out there until you poke around.