136. “If these guys want” Masters and Burrough, “Cable Guys.”
THIRTEEN: THE RIGHT KIND OF FRIENDS
1. News Corp’s assault Shawcross, Murdoch, 412.
2. “You are immoral” Oral argument by Clifford Thau, an outside attorney representing Fox News. Fox News v. Time Warner, 96-cv-4963, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York (Brooklyn).
3. “He called me a lot of names” Masters and Burrough, “Cable Guys.”
4. “What the hell happened?” Ibid.
5. “Chase, calm down” Ibid.
6. The launch of Fox News Elizabeth Sanger, “Uphill Fight for Fox,” Newsday (New York), Nov. 7, 1996.
7. The first intimation Masters and Burrough, “Cable Guys.”
8. They directed Dressler Ibid.
9. the FTC announced Martin Crutsinger, “FTC Approves Time Warner’s Acquisition of Turner,” Associated Press, Sept. 12, 1996.
10. On September 12 Martin Crutsinger, “FTC Approves Time Warner’s Acquisition of Turner,” Associated Press, Sept. 12, 1996.
11. Richard Aurelio, the president Author interview with Richard Aurelio, former president of Time Warner New York City Cable Group.
12. In his negotiations Affidavit of former Time Warner executive vice president of cable programming Fred Dressler, Time Warner Cable v. City of New York, 96-cv-7736, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan).
13. The financial terms Letter from Rupert Murdoch to Gerald Levin, June 4, 1996.
14. Of more immediate concern Masters and Burrough, “Cable Guys.”
15. After John Malone’s TCI announced John Dempsey, “Spurned Cable Webs Revile TCI,” Variety, Aug. 19–Aug. 25, 1996. See also Bill Carter, “Plan to Cut TV Channel Angers Women’s Groups,” New York Times, Sept. 14, 1996.
16. During Dressler’s negotiations Masters and Burrough, “Cable Guys.”
17. In the mid-1980s Ibid.
18. In the press Louise McElvogue, “After Rupert,” Guardian (London), April 22, 1996. See also Paul Farhi, “Mogul Wrestling; In the War Between Murdoch and Turner, Similarity Breeds Contempt,” Washington Post, Nov. 18, 1996.
19. When Turner agreed Dennis Wharton, “Murdoch Turns Tables on Turner,” Daily Variety, Feb. 27, 1996.
20. Murdoch listened Masters and Burrough, “Cable Guys.”
21. George Pataki Kiley Armstrong, “Cuomo’s Defeat Could Mean Trouble for NYC Mayor,” Associated Press, Nov. 9, 1994.
22. Murdoch donated Candace Sutton (editor), Back Page, Sydney (Australia) Sun Herald, Dec. 11, 1994. See also Louise Branson, “TV’s Big Guns Fall Silent,” Scotsman, Jan. 4, 1997.
23. The New York cable franchise Masters and Burrough, “Cable Guys.”
24. The paper had endorsed New York Post (cover), Oct. 29, 1993, and Oct. 28, 1994.
25. Murdoch even employed Elisabeth Bumiller, “Clash of Careers for First Lady; Donna Hanover’s 2 Roles Are Not Always Separate,” New York Times, Dec.1, 1995.
26. It was also Peter Grant, “20 M for Rupe’s Biz but Foes Rip City, State on News Corp. Deal,” New York Daily News, June 20, 1996.
27. Though he officially renounced politics Ailes Communications, “Roger Ailes for Governor? Not!” (press release), Dec. 21, 1992.
28. On the evening Author interview with a person who was present at Ailes Communications headquarters on the evening of the 1992 presidential election.
29. A month later Maurice Carroll, “Giuliani’s New Style on Display at Dinner,” New York Newsday, Dec. 3, 1992.
30. When Giuliani took office Author interview with a person familiar with the matter.
31. On Friday, September 20 Brock, “Roger Ailes Is Mad as Hell.”
32. The previous spring Affidavit of former New York City deputy mayor Fran Reiter, Time Warner Cable v. City of New York.
33. “Time Warner informed us” Author interview with Fran Reiter. Much of the following account of Reiter’s involvement in the negotiations comes from this interview.
34. As part of its News America project financing proposal, submitted to the New York City Industrial Development Agency in 1996.
35. Privately, however Author interview with Fran Reiter.
36. In 1993, he had won Beth J. Harpaz, “Giuliani Defeats Dinkins in Tight Race,” Associated Press, Nov. 3, 1993.
37. “Rudy was walking into a snake pit” Ibid.
38. On Thursday, September 26 Clifford J. Levy, “An Old Friend Called Giuliani, and New York’s Cable Clash Was On,” New York Times, Nov. 4, 1996.
39. Meanwhile, uptown David Lieberman, “Time Warner–Murdoch Feud Heats Up,” USA Today, Sept. 27, 1996. See also Arthur Spiegelman, “Murdoch Pledges to Get Even with Turner,” Reuters, published in Toronto Financial Post, Sept. 28, 1996; and Brett Thomas, “Turner Slams Murdoch,” Sydney Sun Herald, Sept. 29, 1996.
40. By Friday afternoon Affidavit of Fran Reiter, Time Warner Cable v. City of New York.
41. Over the weekend Ibid. See also Levy, “An Old Friend Called Giuliani”; and David L. Lewis, Angela G. King, and Dean Chang, “TV Titans in Power Play,” New York Daily News, Oct. 20, 1996.
42. On Monday morning Opinion of U.S. District Court Judge Denise Cote, Nov. 6, 1996, Time Warner Cable v. City of New York, http://www.nyls.edu/documents/media_center/the_media_center_library_u_s_cases/timewnyc.pdf.
43. Aurelio left a message Affidavit of Fran Reiter, Time Warner Cable v. City of New York.
44. As they spoke by phone Author interview with Fran Reiter. See also Lewis, King, and Chang, “TV Titans in Power Play.”
45. Aurelio was entering Author interview with Richard Aurelio.
46. On Tuesday, October 1 Plaintiffs’ Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, Oct. 25, 1996, Time Warner Cable v. City of New York. See also Masters and Burrough, “Cable Guys.”
47. Later that day Affidavit of Fran Reiter. See also Plaintiffs’ Proposed Findings of Fact, Time Warner Cable v. City of New York.
48. “When you’re screwed over” Elizabeth Lesly, “The Dumbest Show in Television,” Businessweek, Oct. 20, 1996.
49. That evening Michele Greppi and Gregory Zuckerman, “24-Hour Channel’s Toast of the Town,” New York Post, Oct. 2, 1996. See also Clifford J. Levy, “Lobby at Murdoch Gala Ignited Cable Clash,” New York Times, Oct. 13, 1996; Masters and Burrough, “Cable Guys.”