Power Games: The Packer–Murdoch War
| Company type | Miniseries |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Products | Television drama |
| Parent | Nine Network |
Power Games: The Packer–Murdoch War is a dramatic Australian miniseries broadcast on the Nine Network in 2013. Spanning the years 1960 to 1975, it portrays the fierce competition between the Murdoch and Packer dynasties as they competed for supremacy in Australia's newspaper and television industries.
Plot
Episode 1: The rivalry ignites in 1960 when Sir Frank Packer attempts to purchase the Anglican Press to challenge the Murdoch-controlled Cumberland Press. Publisher Francis James declines to sell, leading Kerry Packer and his associates to forcibly seize the premises. This confrontation escalates into a physical altercation involving Rupert Murdoch and editor Frank Browne, an incident that was prominently reported in Murdoch's own newspapers.
After a year-long battle over suburban newspapers, Murdoch, Packer, and Fairfax come to an agreement to divide their markets, laying the groundwork for the lasting contest between Kerry Packer and Rupert Murdoch.
Episode 2: Rupert initiates The Australian newspaper, taking charge of its editorial direction. A strike by journalists at jointly owned newspapers follows; Frank Packer's refusal to negotiate places Rupert under financial strain. Rupert misleads Frank about his financial position, which ultimately ends the strike.
Rupert undertakes bold acquisitions of London's News of the World and later The Sun, rejuvenating them through innovative tactics such as featuring attractive female models on page 3. Despite facing criticism from traditional elites, Rupert disregards their disapproval.
A tragic security mishap occurs when an editor’s wife is mistaken for Rupert’s spouse, resulting in her death; this prompts Rupert to employ bodyguards. Additionally, he dismisses The Australian editor for defying his authority.
Both media magnates exert influence over political affairs, with Rupert achieving greater success. Frank faces difficulties in transferring leadership to his sons; Kerry demonstrates superior business skills compared to his elder brother Clyde. Although newspapers suffer financial setbacks, Frank refuses to sell them to Rupert. Ultimately, with his father’s declining health, Kerry sells the newspapers to Rupert, conceding defeat—yet Kerry later establishes his own media empire.
Ratings
| Episode | Date | Timeslot | Viewers | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Part 1" | 8 September 2013 | Sunday 8:30 pm | 793,000 | #8 |
| 2 | "Part 2" | 15 September 2013 | 773,000 | #9 | |
Cast
- Lachy Hulme as Sir Frank Packer
- Patrick Brammall portraying Rupert Murdoch
- Luke Ford as Kerry Packer
- Alexander England depicting Clyde Packer
- Stephen Leeder as John 'Black Jack' McEwen
- Maeve Dermody playing Anna Torv/Murdoch
- Anne Looby as Florence Packer
- Heather Mitchell portraying Gretel Packer
- Hamish Michael as Bruce Gyngell
- Alan Dukes in the role of Frank Browne
- Hailey McQueen as Sonia McMahon
- Olivia McNamara portraying Prudence Murdoch
- Nicholas Bell as Rupert Henderson
- Charlton Hill in the role of Bill Jenkings
Bridget Griffen-Foley acted as historical consultant
Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Outcome | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | AACTA Awards | Outstanding Telefeature, Mini Series or Limited Series | Template:Nom | ||
| Exceptional Direction | Geoff Bennett for "Part One" | Template:Won | |||
| Outstanding Screenplay | Samantha Winston for "Part One" | Template:Nom | |||
| Leading Actor in a Television Drama | Lachy Hulme | Template:Won | |||
| Supporting or Guest Actor in a Television Drama | Luke Ford for "Part 2" | Template:Won | |||
| Alexander England for "Part 1" | Template:Nom | ||||
| Supporting or Guest Actress in a Television Drama | Heather Mitchell for "Part 1" | Template:Nom | |||
| Excellence in Editing | Mark Perry for "Part 1" | Template:Nom | |||