# Do the Saudis Control Fox? Implications? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 15, 2011, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-saudis-control-fox-implications/585534 "2011-06-15T06:11:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-saudis-control-fox-implications/585534/1 "2011-06-15T06:11:18Z")
From [here](http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2011/02/09/207484/wikileaks-peak-oil-saudi-arabia-reserves-overstated/): > [@](#): > > Saudi Prince (who backs Fox News): “We Don’t Want The West To Go Find Alternatives” To Oil and [here](http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2011/06/01/233824/saudi-prince-oil-alternatives/): > [@](#): > > As yet more evidence that the Saudi interest does not match ours, consider the fact that “bin Talal is also one of Fox News’s largest shareholders.” Yes I know these are articles about Peak Oil. This is not a Peak Oil thread. The debate is: Do influential Saudis control Fox News? If so, what does that mean? Me? My opinion is probably wrong and needs revising. I’ll share it after considering what some brainy 'dopers think. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-saudis-control-fox-implications/585534/2 "2011-06-15T06:16:52Z")
How can Jews AND Saudis control Fox? No. I think that the Saudi oil families and our government are in bed together, but that doesn’t mean that Saudis control Fox any more than you or I do. Fox is a news organization, which means it is running a business. It caters to a group. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-saudis-control-fox-implications/585534/3 "2011-06-15T06:29:43Z")
> [@CitizenPained](#): > > How can Jews AND Saudis control Fox? I don’t think that’s a fair question. A Saudi prince can be said to represent Saudis, no? Who represents Jews as a counter-example? ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-saudis-control-fox-implications/585534/4 "2011-06-15T06:52:31Z")
The people (er, Rupert Murdoch) that own Fox, according to some line of thinking. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-saudis-control-fox-implications/585534/5 "2011-06-15T07:07:06Z")
I guess I don’t notice who’s Jewish. I noticed that this guy is Saudi because of the prince thing, the stock ownership, and the sometimes fundamentalist, often irrational fan base of Fox news. That and the headline saying, “Saudi Prince (who backs Fox News)”. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 8:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-saudis-control-fox-implications/585534/6 "2011-06-15T08:16:35Z")
> [@CitizenPained](#): > > The people (er, Rupert Murdoch) that own Fox, according to some line of thinking. Murdoch’s not Jewish. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Jacquelope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Le\_Jacquelope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Jacquelope)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-saudis-control-fox-implications/585534/7 "2011-06-15T11:08:35Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > From [here](http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2011/02/09/207484/wikileaks-peak-oil-saudi-arabia-reserves-overstated/): > and [here](http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2011/06/01/233824/saudi-prince-oil-alternatives/): > Yes I know these are articles about Peak Oil. This is not a Peak Oil thread. > > The debate is: Do influential Saudis control Fox News? If so, what does that mean? > > Me? My opinion is probably wrong and needs revising. I’ll share it after considering what some brainy 'dopers think. Disgusting. It implies a foreign power has the ability to manipulate what Americans get to hear about. That is intolerable. However history has shown that we do the same thing in other countries. Both should be put to an end. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-saudis-control-fox-implications/585534/8 "2011-06-15T11:12:04Z")
> [@Le\_Jacquelope](#): > > Disgusting. It implies a foreign power has the ability to manipulate what Americans get to hear about. That is intolerable. Actually, it’s called Free Press. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-saudis-control-fox-implications/585534/9 "2011-06-15T13:18:24Z")
I was listening to coverage about the Republican debate and that many of the candidates had suspicions to voice about ‘Muslims’- one wouldn’t let them serve in his cabinet, another would want some extra precaution like a loyalty oath from them before they could serve, etc. There were also, weirdly, references to how Sharia law must not be allowed in the American justice system. It seems “We don’t like Muslims” is a plank in the Republican platform. Later I was browsing around and came across the Saudi-Fox ownership claim in the OP. “Hm, that sure is odd,” I thought. “Why would Republicans, who benefit so much from Fox, disparage Muslims when Fox is ostensibly owned/controlled at least in part by Muslims?” Allowing that not all Saudis are necessarily Muslim, I guess I take it for granted that they would tend to be at least supportive of the religion/culture. It doesn’t seem to add up. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-saudis-control-fox-implications/585534/10 "2011-06-15T13:33:16Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > The debate is: Do influential Saudis control Fox News? No. Roger Ailes and Rupert Murdoch control Fox News. Saudis, meaning Al-Waleed bin Talal’s investment group, own 7 percent of NewsCorp. Some sources say he is the second-largest shareholder in NewsCorp, although he owns a much smaller stake than the Murdoch family. I’m not aware of any other Saudi involvement in NewsCorp, or any involvement in Fox News on any kind of influential or day to day level. Fox News did appear to tread very carefully a few months ago when they were smearing the Cordoba Initiative - the group behind the Islamic center in lower Manhatatn - by implying they were funded by Saudis with terrorist ties. The Cordoba Initiative gets some of its funding from one of bin Talal’s groups. As far as I know, none of them mentioned bin Talal by name and none of them thought to mention that he has a stake in their own parent company. I’m sure their words were chosen very carefully. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-saudis-control-fox-implications/585534/11 "2011-06-15T14:21:38Z")
So what if the Saudis _do_ control Fox News? Is that worse than the Australians controlling it? The Russians? ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-saudis-control-fox-implications/585534/12 "2011-06-15T15:08:38Z")
> [@Le\_Jacquelope](#): > > Disgusting. It implies a foreign power has the ability to manipulate what Americans get to hear about. That is intolerable. > > However history has shown that we do the same thing in other countries. Both should be put to an end. Foreigners like Rupert Murdoch? ---
**Author:** ![fumster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9c0ed/32.png) [@fumster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fumster)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-saudis-control-fox-implications/585534/13 "2011-06-15T15:15:20Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > No. Roger Ailes and Rupert Murdoch control Fox News. Saudis, meaning Al-Waleed bin Talal’s investment group, own 7 percent of NewsCorp. Some sources say he is the second-largest shareholder in NewsCorp, although he owns a much smaller stake than the Murdoch family. I’m not aware of any other Saudi involvement in NewsCorp, or any involvement in Fox News on any kind of influential or day to day level. Fox News did appear to tread very carefully a few months ago when they were smearing the Cordoba Initiative - the group behind the Islamic center in lower Manhatatn - by implying they were funded by Saudis with terrorist ties. The Cordoba Initiative gets some of its funding from one of bin Talal’s groups. As far as I know, none of them mentioned bin Talal by name and none of them thought to mention that he has a stake in their own parent company. I’m sure their words were chosen very carefully. So what you are saying is that Fox news is palling around with Muslims. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-saudis-control-fox-implications/585534/14 "2011-06-15T16:35:32Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > Foreigners like Rupert Murdoch? FTR, Murdoch is a naturalized US citizen. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-saudis-control-fox-implications/585534/15 "2011-06-15T16:56:47Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > So what if the Saudis _do_ control Fox News? Is that worse than the Australians controlling it? The Russians? Or, for that matter, a Mexican billionaire owning a major share of the NY Times. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-saudis-control-fox-implications/585534/16 "2011-06-15T17:02:49Z")
It would only make sense for the Saudis to want to invest in FOX, they’re the network that promotes global warming denial. Of course the Saudis want FOX News to succeed. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-saudis-control-fox-implications/585534/17 "2011-06-15T17:37:08Z")
Investing in organizations that produce income is just business. Investing in organizations for idealogical reasons is called charity. The Saudis are businessmen first and have invested in Fox to make money. Fox makes money and so is a good investent. That is all. ---
**Author:** ![Capitaine\_Zombie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@Capitaine\_Zombie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capitaine_Zombie)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-saudis-control-fox-implications/585534/18 "2011-06-15T17:44:52Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > FTR, Murdoch is a naturalized US citizen. That’s what he says. I’m still waiting on his long form certificate. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-saudis-control-fox-implications/585534/19 "2011-06-15T17:58:09Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > The Saudis are businessmen first and have invested in Fox to make money. Fox makes money and so is a good investent. That is all. They’ve invested in NewsCorp, not Fox. There’s a great deal more to NewsCorp than just the Fox stations, although if you don’t like Fox, you probably won’t like the rest of it either. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2011, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-saudis-control-fox-implications/585534/20 "2011-06-15T18:43:55Z")
> [@CitizenPained](#): > > How can Jews AND Saudis control Fox? The Saudis are fair, the Jews are balanced. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-the-saudis-control-fox-implications/585534.md?page=2)