 No. 18 Rupert Murdoch, chairman and CEO, News Corp
Last year's position: 11
One of the questions upon which this whole Agenda Setters list now hinges is: 'is Rupert Murdoch a spent force?' Do not underestimate the effect he has had on the new media and IT industries over the past five years. But what does he have left to offer?
The Aussie media magnate has dropped from position 1 to 11 to 18 over the past three polls, suggesting he is on his way out of this list altogether sometime in the next few years. That reasoning among the panel owes much to his age and the thinking that he has to let go of the News Corp reins at some point.
Last year we said "a top three without Rupert Murdoch is like the Beatles without Lennon and McCartney". Next year, at the current rate he won't even be top 30 let alone top three.
But through acquisition and market domination his companies continue to set the agenda. Over the coming years expect Murdoch businesses to be at the forefront of the move to digital television, with the analogue switch off already timetabled for 2010.
But which Murdoch will be behind the wheel? It's telling that father is below son James in this list.
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