RUPERT MURDOCH ON THE APPLE iPAD

Andrew Clark reports at the Sunday Morning Herald:
• Rupert Murdoch said the iPad and the Kindle would be ”unloved and unsold” without creativity from companies like his News Corporation.
• Tablet computers, e-readers and smartphones would be unloved ”empty vessels” without quality creative content.
• He revealed the company was in ”advanced discussions” with hand-held device manufacturers about a subscription model allowing people to access media content ”whenever and wherever they want it”.
• ”Content is not just king, it is the emperor of all things digital,” he said. ”We’re on the cusp of a digital revolution from which our shareholders will profit handsomely.”
• In a reference to technology such as Apple’s iPad and Amazon’s Kindle, he said such ”fabulous devices” would be ”unloved and unsold” without creativity from companies such as his own, adding they were powered by content – not batteries.
• ”Instead of the existential debate about value, now we’re merely arguing about valuation,” he said. ”Consumers want content delivered immediately and on a variety of devices. They’re willing to pay to be entertained and informed.”
• Profits of News Corp’s newspapers rose 29 per cent to $US259 million, aided by cost cuts at British titles and a robust performance from The Wall Street Journal.