Scope Widens for Murdoch

The owners of the Kings have been talking to Rupert Murdoch and his Fox Sports Group about becoming an entertainment partner in their downtown sports arena and entertainment complex, which could ultimately include ownership interest in the Kings and Lakers.

Sources said Fox, which is negotiating to buy the Dodgers, is seeking a firmer grip on the local TV market, and its ultimate objective is controlling interest in the Lakers.

Fox is pushing for a deal, insiders say, to include an option to buy controlling interest in the Kings next year, which would then give them the right to exercise the Kings’ option to buy 30% of the Lakers.

Bob Steiner, a spokesman for Laker owner Jerry Buss, said, “He still retains control, and he still intends to pass it on to his kids.”

Sources said that Fox believes it can wrest the Lakers from Buss eventually and will begin by going after the 30% within reach of the Kings.

The acquisition of the Lakers, on the heels of a completed deal to buy the Dodgers and his anticipated interest in pursuing an NFL franchise for Los Angeles, would allow Murdoch to monopolize the Los Angeles market and cripple competitors interested in expanding here.

Murdoch’s Fox network already holds rights to the NFL’s prestigious NFC package each Sunday during the football season, and he’s also a 50-50 partner with the NFL in its World League operation.

King officials, on the eve of a final City Council vote to approve the arena deal, were obviously distressed with reports of their talk with Murdoch.

“I can tell you unequivocally 100% for sure the [Philip] Anschutz people as well as Ed Roski are not interested in getting out of this and not selling all their assets,” King President Tim Leiweke said of the team’s owners. “We’re going the other way; we’re committed to Los Angeles.”

Leiweke declined to say if there have been talks with Murdoch.

Why would the Kings’ owners and builders of the proposed new sports arena and entertainment complex be so eager to rid themselves of the Kings?

As one source familiar with Fox and the Kings’ owners said, “Remember, Roski and Anschutz are developers, not sports team managers. By profession, they are in-and-out kind of people--developers.”

In earlier discussions with Roski, he insisted he and his partner are firm in their resolve to remain active in the Los Angeles sports scene as owners of the Kings and a new football team.

Roski, who spent the earlier part of the week trying to convince NFL owners to award him and his partner a team, had promised to be more responsive to the public to demonstrate his commitment in the L.A. sports scene. He did not return telephone calls.

His spokesman, John Semcken, offered a series of “no comments” to additional questions regarding Fox and its level of potential commitment in the sports arena and entertainment complex.

“We have been talking to several entertainment companies,” Semcken said. “And we can’t be any more definitive than that.”

Insiders said Fox is not being considered a prime prospect for signage rights to the arena, but Fox might have naming rights ultimately to a surrounding retail center or sports theme park in the area surrounding the arena.

Sources, however, stressed the point that Fox is making a move on the King owners primarily because of its interest in expanding its TV potential, and has no real interest in the new sports arena and entertainment complex.

King officials have been counting on a one-sided City Council vote as a sign of support for their arena deal, in hopes it will provide additional momentum in their campaign to win a football team for Los Angeles.

“The future of L.A. as the sports and entertainment capital of the world is on the line,” said Steve Soboroff, an aide to Mayor Richard Riordan and a bridge between city officials and the Kings throughout the arena process. “That’s what this is all about; if this doesn’t happen, we go to the minor leagues.”

The King owners won release from their Forum lease earlier, and in that deal gained the option in 1998 to purchase 25% of the Lakers from Buss and an additional 5% from Denver interests.

Roski said earlier a sales price for the Lakers has been set covering the next 25 years, allowing the Kings to determine the cost in exercising their option. Roski said, based on that, “it’s a good bargain.”

In his statement, Buss confirmed the Kings’ option to buy an interest in his team. “I thought it was beneficial for the new owners of the arena to have a minority interest in the Lakers,” Buss said.

While Buss has agreed to move the Lakers into the downtown arena, he intends to hold on to the Forum in Inglewood and find new clients to fill the vacancy created by the exit of its two high-profile teams.

There has been speculation among Los Angeles city officials that Donald Sterling will move his Clippers from the Sports Arena to the Forum if the Lakers leave in 1999.

Times staff writers Steve Springer and Sallie Hofmeister contributed to this story.