Cultural conservatives are feuding over the proposed $26 billion merger between two big satellite TV firms. DirecTV and EchoStar Communications Corp., and how that deal might affect media mogul Rupert Murdoch, CNSNews.com reported July 11.
David Clark, president of the Texas-based FamilyNET, recently wrote an article blasting Louis Sheldon, chairman of the Traditional Values Coalition, ofr allying himself with Murdoch in opposition to the merger.
As chairman of News Corp., Murdoch had sought his own merger with DirecTV but was outbid by EchoStar chairman Charlie Ergen last year.
“As the former chairman and CEO of the National Religious Broadcasters, and as a current board member of the NRB, I find it difficult to explain how Rev. Sheldon can voice ‘moral concerns’ over a merger between EchoStar and DirecTV when those companies have been integral to the dissemination of thousands of family-oriented and religious programs,” Clark wrote.
“As a religious American, I find the alliance between … Murdoch and … Sheldon to be deeply troubling,” in part because of the Fox network’s programming lineup that includes “Temptation Island,” “Looking for Love: Bachlorettes in Alaska” and “Celebrity Boxing,” Clark said. Murdoch’s News Corp. owns the Fox Entertainment Group.
Clark supports the merger because he believes it will lead to hundreds of Christian stations being carried on satellite.
(BP)
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