Rupert Murdoch steps down: 'Writing was on wall'

Rupert Murdoch has resigned from a string of directorships controlling his News Corporation's UK newspapers.

Mr Murdoch, 81, quit directorships at NI Group Ltd, NewsCorp Investments and Times Newspaper Holdings on Friday.

News Corp plans to split into two firms, separating its newspaper and book publishing interests from its now dominant TV and film enterprises.

Mr Murdoch is expected to chair both businesses but to be chief executive only of the TV and film side

Media commentator Steve Hewlett said that Rupert Murdoch's move was "hardly surprising" considering the dynamics of the global media market.