Speaking at News Corporation's financial results, Murdoch attempted to dispel the widely held belief in the British media that he would like to add Five to his international array of television holdings, which also includes Fox in the US.
"There's some theory that, in the present media legislation in Britain, I've done a deal with the government so that we can buy Five," the BSkyB and News Corporation chairman said. "I've never asked to buy Five and if it ever went to a vote of the Sky board, I would vote against it."
Murdoch was referring to the communications bill, which proposes changes to media ownership legislation that would effectively allow him to acquire Five. The bill's progress through the Houses of Parliament has been halted by a rebellion in the House of Lords, where there is widespread opposition to the so-called "Murdoch clause".
News Corp holds a 36.6% stake in BSkyB and has five executives on the board of the satellite broadcaster. Media commentators believe he would use the company to acquire a stake in Five.
The opposition to Murdoch taking control of Five has been led in the Lords by Lord Puttnam, who has been outspoken on the subject. Lord Puttnam is chairman of the joint scrutiny committee into the new communications bill.
Lord Puttnam has been critical of the government's decision to overrule his recommendation that newspaper proprietors should continue to be banned from owning Five. This is the rule that currently prevents Murdoch from owning a terrestrial broadcaster in the UK.
Murdoch said that the UK and Australian media were "a little bit paranoid" about his acquisition plans. However, should the media mogul wish to raise money for a terrestrial acquisition, he should have little difficulty in doing so. News Corporation announced yesterday that it had begun to balance its books again, with net profits of $275m (£171.1m), up from losses of $4bn a year ago.
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