Fox’s $787.5 mn deal saved it from a long trial, says Lachlan Murdoch

Fox Corp. Chief Executive Officer Lachlan Murdoch said the company’s $787.5 million settlement with Dominion Voting Systems Inc. over a defamation lawsuit was a “business decision” made to “avoid the acrimony” of a years-long court case.

Murdoch’s remarks are the first public comments he’s made to investors about the record settlement reached last month with Dominion, which accused Fox of promoting false theories that the voting machine manufacturer rigged the 2020 presidential election.

During an earnings call Tuesday, Murdoch didn’t directly address the ouster of Tucker Carlson, who had one of the most popular programs on cable TV before he was fired when the trial revealed messages in which he bad-mouthed guests and colleagues.