Media baron(नवाब) Rupert Murdoch has resigned as director of his UK-based newspapers. He separated his newspapers from the lucerative film and television divisions of News International last month. Murdoch's latest move is likely to lead to industry speculation that he is preparing the ground to sell off his UK-based newspapers that have come under cloud due to the phone-hacking controversy.

A News International spokesman said Murdoch has stepped down from a number of boards, many of them small subsidiary boards, both in the Britain and the United States.

The Star Group on Monday bagged the broadcast and digital rights of India's international cricket matches at home for a period of six years after bidding a whopping 3851 crore rupees.

The Rupert-Murdoch-owned company beat competition from Multi Screen Media (Sony) to bag rights for all international matches at home events like Ranji Trophy, Duleep


Trophy and the Irani Trophy starting from July 2012 till March 2018.

The company's six-year contract is valued at 3851 crore rupees and will cover 96 matches in all. Star and Multi Screen Media (Sony) were the only two companies to make the bids but a total of five had filed the tenders.

The BCCI is very happy with the deal. Now the media rights have been fully evaluated and fully priced with Star coming out with a such a deal, BCCI President N Srinivasan told reporters while making the announcement.

Star Group's India CEO Uday Shankar said that the company would provide good telecast of the matches.