http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/lachlan-murdoch-ey...

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/media/lachlan-murdoch-eyes-ten-deal-with-james-packer/story-e6frg8mf-1225944560093

LACHLAN Murdoch will push for representation on the board of Ten Network Holdings if discussions with James Packer lead to a deal.

Sources close to Mr Murdoch this morning confirmed a report in The Daily Telegraph that the News Corporation director was considering purchasing half of Mr Packer's 18 per cent stake in the free-to-air television broadcaster.

While no agreement has been struck -- and there is some chance is will not happen -- Mr Murdoch has been looking closely at Ten since Mr Packer spent $280 million on his stake last week.

A 9 per cent stake would cost Mr Murdoch about $150m. Mr Packer still has the option of building his take up to 19.9 per cent before making a bid.

Mr Murdoch also has investments in regional TV player Prime and DMG Radio, which owns the Nova FM network.

Mr Murdoch and Mr Packer have a long association, including backing the failed telco One.Tel. They joined forces in early 2008 in a bid to privatise Mr Packer's pay-TV investment company, Consolidated Media Holdings. The deal was abandoned as the global financial crisis hit.

Mr Murdoch has also held senior roles in News Corp's operations TV assets, including Australian pay-TV operator Foxtel and the Fox TV operations in the US.

Mr Packer will use his stake to push for changes to Ten's strategy.

He hopes to lower the networks cost base, remove layers of management, alter the multi-channelling strategy and refocus on the 18-to-39 age demographic.

News Corp is the publisher of The Australian.