The 77-year-old Rupert Murdoch sounded exuberant at News Corp's quarterly results conference call, telling analysts he would improve Dow Jones's revenues by "hundreds of millions of dollars" and that he was confident News would win the bidding for Tribune's Newsday.

Interjecting occasionally on questions to lieutenants Peter Chernin and David DeVoe , he was dismissive on CNN's gains in ratings and the effect on Fox News's affiliate renewal talks: "[Fox News] couldn't be doing better. Even Mr (Howard) Wolfson, Mrs Clinton's manager, has said our fair and balanced position has made it definitely Number One and they only watch Fox News," he said, prompting chuckles from his executives.