The Sun, a UK newspaper, suffered a loss of £66 million and saw a decline of 4 million online readers amidst ongoing repercussions from the phone-hacking scandal. Over the past five years, the tabloid has accrued total losses of £515 million due to decreasing print sales and hefty payouts to victims of illicit information gathering. Legal battles, including one involving Prince Harry, continue to burden the newspaper, with mounting costs attributed to phone-hacking litigation.
News Corp’s radio and television division, which includes the struggling right-wing news channel TalkTV, reported losses of nearly £54 million, prompting its transition to an online-only platform. Despite efforts to mitigate losses through price increases and cost management, the Sun faces financial challenges exacerbated by a tough advertising market. However, Times Media Ltd, owner of the Times and Sunday Times, experienced a rise in profits driven by an increase in online subscribers seeking access to paywalled content.
As the phone-hacking scandal persists, News UK anticipates nearing the end of litigation despite having settled numerous claims from celebrities over unlawful information gathering. A high court judge’s ruling allowed Prince Harry’s case to proceed to trial in 2025, highlighting the ongoing legal battles confronting Murdoch’s media empire. Amidst the evolving media landscape and financial struggles, the Guardian appeals for support to sustain its independent journalism in covering consequential news cycles and challenging powerful interests.
