Rupert Murdoch: 'Newspapers could die out in 10 years'

Published Apr 26 2012, 20:24 BST  |  By Paul Millar

Rupert Murdoch has predicted that newspapers will die out within the next two decades.

The News Corporation chairman, who owns The Sun and The Times in the UK, believes that the internet has had a "disruptive" influence on print media.

Speaking at the Leveson Inquiry, he said: "Every newspaper has had a very good run... It's coming to an end as a result of these disruptive technologies.

"I think we will have both [internet and print news] for quite a while, certainly ten years, some people say five. I'd be more inclined to say 20, but 20 means very small circulations."

However, Murdoch warned that the press will be destroyed by an over-reaction to the phone hacking scandal, adding: "I think you have a danger of regulating, putting regulations in place which will mean there will be no press in 10 years to regulate.

"We're dealing in a very complex world with disruptive technologies, and we're suffering at the hand of those, so when it comes to regulation, I just beg for some care. A varied press guarantees democracy and we want democracy rather than autocracy."

The 81-year-old media tycoon, in facing questions today, admitted that there was a "cover-up" at the now-defunct News of the World.