Murdoch hints at plans for Japanese MySpace

TOKYO – News Corp.owner Rupert Murdoch said yesterday he was 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 socialise online and was snapped up by News Corp last year for US$580 million. 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 exclusive from other partners.Nampa-AFPMurdoch, 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 exclusive from other partners.Nampa-AFP