Murdoch & McCaw: A Likely Match?

Katie Fehrenbacher | Tuesday, July 18, 2006 | 2:30 PM PT | 1 comment

Murdoch is reportedly planning to jump into the world of WiMAX through its DirecTV broadcast company, and could either partner with Clearwire or go after its own spectrum. The Hollywood Reporter says the most likely story is a link with McCaw’s Clearwire, and quotes sources that say News Corp and DirectTV are in “advanced” talks with Clearwire.

Robert Young, the soothsayer who sees things before others had alluded to Murdoch’s broadband plans almost a year ago. You must go and read Murdoch, WiMax and The Two Way Web and get a sense of why it is the most important priority for News Corp.

Another option could be those spectrum auctions coming up in August that everyone from Gabelli, and Paul Allen to William Berkman are eying. FCC files say a group called Wireless DBS, which is backed by DirecTV, News Corp, Fox Entertainment, EchoStar, Rupert Murdoch, and EchoStar’s Charles Ergen, among others, are looking to bid. Though, the application is incomplete and today is the last day to update it. These applications could be a low-risk placeholder, but then again, it’s an indicator of company ambition.

1 comment so far

July 21st, 2006
1:18 PM PT
DG Lewis said:

Any indication that Clearwire has interest in spectrum other than 2.5 GHz (owned or leased)? I don’t see Fixed Wireless Holdings anywhere among the applications for the AWS auction.

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