Murdoch hints at plans for Japanese MySpace

0 Comments | AFP, November, 2006

TOKYO (AFP) — News Corp. owner Rupert Murdoch has said he is seeking a tie-up in new media with Japan's Softbank amid reports the firms plan a Japanese version of MySpace, the wildly popular US networking website. Los Angeles-based MySpace has exploded in popularity since it was launched in January 2004 as a hip place to socialize online and was snapped up by News Corp last year for 580 million dollars.

Murdoch, the Australian-born media mogul, said he planned to meet with Softbank president Masayoshi Son on a current visit to Japan, where he was participating in a conference. "We are friends. We look forward to working with him together here or in other parts of the world," Murdoch told reporters in Tokyo. He said the tie-up would likely be a joint venture and would not be...