Controversy-ridden media baron Rupert Murdoch received a new jolt in his home country Australia,when his company Sky News lost a lucrative contract to run the Canberra's international TV service to Asia,to the national broadcaster ABC. Communications Minister Stephen Conroy announced that "the government has determined that Australia's international broadcasting service should be delivered by the national broadcaster," ending months of tussle between ABC and Sky news,who were competing for the contract,ABC reported. The minister said the government has decided that the contract for the Australia Network international television service will remain with the ABC after the authorities scrapped the tender process last month,citing damaging leaks to the media. Federal Police were called in to find the source of the leaks,which detailed confidential bids to run the government's international television service. Leaks to the media had suggested that Sky was poised to win the USD 227 million contract to run the Australian network,which is partly funded by the government and is beamed to 44 countries in Asia and Pacific. Sky news is part owned by Britain's BSkyB,which in turn is owned by Murdoch's News Corporation. Conroy said the government had hoped the tender for the network would have been completed in good faith. "However,several leaks have compromised the process and prevented a fair consideration of the bids," he said in a statement. "The government believes it is unfortunate that this process did not reach a satisfactory solution,however,in light of the circumstances it is now in the national interest to make a clear decision about the future of the service rather than allowing uncertainty to continue. "Having reflected upon the process to date,and what the service really needs to provide,the government has determined that Australia's international broadcasting service should be delivered by the national broadcaster," he said. Hailing the government's move,ABC's chief Mark Scott said his company would combine the television's services with Radio Australia to enrich the contents. The Sky News said it expects to be "fully compensated" for the now failed tender.
