News Corp reported a 7% increase in global full-year revenue to $9 billion, but the fiscal success was partially overshadowed by a decline in digital subscribers across its Australian mastheads and a sharp rebuke of artificial intelligence companies by the firm’s leadership. Chief Executive Robert Thomson used the annual financial release to issue a blistering critique of AI developers, characterizing them as entities that harvest high-quality journalism without fair compensation. While the company’s diversified portfolio—including the business-focused Dow Jones unit and digital real estate assets—drove the overall revenue growth, the traditional news media segment faced headwinds from a cooling advertising market and shifting consumer habits in the South Pacific.
Financial Performance and the Impact of News Corp Loses Subscribers in Australia
The Rupert Murdoch-backed media conglomerate saw its total revenue reach $10.1 billion for the fiscal year ending June 30, according to official financial filings. This growth was largely attributed to the robust performance of its professional information services and book publishing divisions. The Dow Jones segment, which includes the Wall Street Journal and Barron’s, continued to be a primary engine of growth, benefiting from high-margin digital subscriptions and professional data services.
However, the news media division told a more complicated story. Advertising revenue within this segment fell by 2% during the financial year, reflecting a broader global trend where marketing budgets are increasingly diverted toward social media platforms and search engines. In Australia, the company’s internal data revealed a concerning trend: digital subscribers at News Corp Australia slid from 1,166,000 to 1,162,000. While the numerical drop appears marginal, it represents a symbolic reversal for a division that has long been the cornerstone of the Murdoch family’s global media influence.
The decline in the Australian subscriber base occurs at a time when the cost of living in the region has reached historic highs, forcing many households to consolidate their digital subscriptions. This contraction in the Australian market serves as a stark reminder of the volatility facing legacy media outlets as they attempt to transition from print-heavy business models to sustainable digital-first strategies.
CEO Robert Thomson Attacks AI ‘Crass Kleptomaniacs’
In a statement that resonated across the global tech and media sectors, News Corp CEO Robert Thomson did not mince words regarding the rise of generative artificial intelligence. Thomson accused AI models of engaging in a systematic "pilfering" of proprietary content to train large language models (LLMs). He argued that these technologies profit from the intellectual property of journalists and authors without providing the financial remuneration necessary to sustain professional newsgathering.
"We will pursue those pilferers, and companies that are clients of these crass kleptomaniacs should know they are patently in possession of stolen goods," Thomson stated. His rhetoric highlights a growing existential tension between the media industry and Silicon Valley. Thomson further suggested that the absence of professional journalism would lead to a degradation of the information ecosystem, claiming that without the "professional expertise" of journalists, the internet would become a "slimy sea of AI slop."
The term "AI slop" has recently gained traction in tech circles to describe the low-quality, often inaccurate, and repetitive content generated by automated systems. By framing News Corp’s content as the essential antidote to this "slop," Thomson is positioning the company’s archives and real-time reporting as premium assets that AI developers must pay to access. This stance comes despite News Corp having already secured multi-year commercial agreements with major players like OpenAI and Meta, suggesting the company is aggressively pursuing both legal protections and lucrative licensing deals.
Regulatory Crackdown on Childcare and Public Safety
As News Corp navigates the digital transition, the Australian government is simultaneously managing a massive regulatory overhaul in the domestic childcare sector. Recent data indicates that nearly 600 childcare services were shut down in the most recent quarter, representing a twentyfold increase compared to the same period last year. This surge in enforcement actions follows a coordinated effort by federal and state regulators to eliminate "dodgy" or underperforming providers from the market.
Education Minister Jason Clare noted that while the number of closures is at record highs, the overall quality of the sector is improving. Approximately 92% of remaining services now meet national quality and safety standards, up from 88% in 2022. The crackdown was spurred by a series of high-profile allegations involving safety breaches and child sexual abuse, which put immense pressure on the government to strengthen oversight. New legislation has also been introduced to automatically cut funding to centers that fail to meet basic operational benchmarks.
Rising Injuries Prompt New E-bike Safety Standards
In another move toward increased public regulation, the Australian government has tasked the national consumer watchdog with developing mandatory safety standards for e-bikes, e-scooters, and e-skateboards. The initiative follows a dramatic spike in accidents and injuries related to these devices. In New South Wales alone, e-bike-related injuries rose from 226 in 2024 to 233 in just the first seven months of 2025, including four fatalities.
Transport Minister Catherine King emphasized that the new standards are intended to harmonize rules across all states and territories. A primary focus will be the prohibition of high-powered and high-speed devices that have been linked to severe trauma. Additionally, the regulations aim to address the risk of lithium-ion battery fires, which have become an increasing concern for emergency services in urban areas. The goal is to provide consumers with confidence that the products they purchase are legal, fit for purpose, and safe for public infrastructure.
Violence and Tragedy in Regional Communities
The news cycle was further marred by reports of violence and tragedy in regional Australia. In Queensland, an hours-long police siege in the town of Charleville ended with the discovery of two bodies. A 45-year-old man and a 23-year-old woman were found dead in a residence after specialist police units had surrounded the property for nearly eight hours. The incident began following reports of a serious assault, leading to a total lockdown of a three-street block in the outback community.
Simultaneously, in New South Wales, a 43-year-old man was arrested and charged for allegedly making violent threats against a female Member of Parliament. Police allege the man used social media to post threats of physical harm and property damage, stating his intention to track the victim down in public. He was charged with the use of a carriage service to threaten serious harm and was refused bail. This case has reignited discussions regarding the safety of public officials and the role of social media platforms in moderating extremist rhetoric and targeted harassment.
The Future of Media in the Age of AI and Automation
The intersection of News Corp’s financial results and the company’s aggressive stance on AI suggests a pivotal moment for the global media landscape. As News Corp loses subscribers in Australia, the company is doubling down on the value of its intellectual property as a defensive measure. The shift in focus from traditional advertising to content licensing for AI training represents a significant change in how the world’s largest media organizations plan to monetize their output in the coming decade.
For the Australian market, the decline in digital subscribers underscores the difficulty of maintaining growth in a saturated and economically strained environment. While the Dow Jones and real estate segments provide a financial cushion, the core news mission of the company remains under pressure from both technological disruption and shifting social dynamics.
The broader implications of Robert Thomson’s "slimy sea of slop" comment extend beyond News Corp. It serves as a rallying cry for the entire journalism industry to assert its value in a world where synthetic content is becoming ubiquitous. As the legal and commercial boundaries of AI continue to be negotiated, the outcome will likely determine the quality and reliability of information available to the public for generations to come. The struggle to maintain a paying audience while fighting for the integrity of original content remains the defining challenge for News Corp and its peers.
