Meanwhile, Murdoch has reportedly offered Major League Baseball $2.9 billion for exclusive rights to carry post-season baseball over his Fox network over the next six years. The current $1.2-billion postseason contract, which expires at the end of this season, divides coverage among Fox, NBC, and ESPN.

Commenting on the report, which first appeared in USA Today, MLB spokesman Rich Levin told Bloomberg News, "All we're saying is that we're still in negotiations. ... We hope to have an announcement fairly soon."

Source: Studio Briefing