Murdoch set to duck phone-hack questions at News Corp results call

Rupert Murdoch will answer questions from analysts and journalists today during a New York conference call as News Corp releases its fourth quarter results.

The Telegraph reports that analysts are likely to probe News Corp on its succession plans, corporate governance and its handling of the hacking scandal.

It reports that analysts will also push for information on the scandal rather than the company’s financial performance.

The Guardian reports that Murdoch will use a prepared statement and says that questions about phone-hacking ‘will not be accepted on the grounds they could prejudice a later trial.”

According to The Guardian, Wall Street investors will be paying close attention to what the media mogul’s plans are for the $12bn (£7.5bn) which had been set aside for News Corp’s to buy the 62 per cent of BSkyB that it does not already own.

News Corp’s fourth quarter earnings conference call is due to take place today at 4pm today (New York Time) – which is 9pm GMT – with a webcast due to start at 4.30pm.