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December 6, 2007

Murdoch’s News Corporation buys Web site that offers spiritual hope

by Cheryl Heckler
Ecumenical News International

OXFORD, OH — Rupert Murdoch’s global media organization News Corporation has announced it has acquired Beliefnet, said to be the largest faith and spirituality information site on the World Wide Web, for an undisclosed sum.

“Beliefnet has garnered respect for its commitment to quality, editorial strength and unbiased approach to faith and spirituality from a broad range of consumers, religious and political leaders, journalists and advertisers,” said Dan Fawcett, president of Fox Digital Media, part of News Corporation, in a Dec. 4 statement announcing the acquisition.

He said Fox wants to “leverage these characteristics across a broader media canvas” and “enhance an already terrific product in a rapidly growing market.”

Beliefnet will become part of Fox Digital Media, in a move that further expands News Corporation’s Internet holdings.

“Rarely has religion been more prominent in the media than today, and News Corp’s interest in Beliefnet, thought to be a good advertising revenue generator, indicates how seriously this is all being taken,” wrote Ruth Gledhill, religion correspondent for the News Corporation-owned Times of London, on her online blog.

Founded in 1999, Beliefnet claims 3 million users each month. Its aim is to “help people find and walk a spiritual path that instills comfort, hope, clarity, strength and happiness for people who are exploring their own faith or curious about other spiritual traditions.”

More than 82 million Americans and 64 percent of all Internet users search the Web for faith-related information, according to The Pew Internet Project.

The Los Angeles Times reported that the deal would offer cross-marketing opportunities between Beliefnet and Fox Faith, a year-old division within the Fox studio that targets Christian audiences with religious-themed movies.