>> George: REAL LIFE SUCCESSION. RUPERT MURDOCH IS FACING OFF
WITH FEW OF HIS CHILDREN. SEEMS LIKE HIPRIPPED RIGHT FROME
TV SHOW. >> DRAMATIC BEHIND THE SCENES
BATTLE BETWEEN RUPERT MURDOCH AND THREE OF HIS CHILDREN.
AT STAKE, VETO POWER OVER ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL MEDIA
COMPANIES IN THE WORLD. THIS MORNING THE FAMILY BELIEVED
TO BE THE INSPIRATION BEHIND THE HIT SHOW "SUCCESSION."
>> EVERYTHING I HAVE DONE IN MY LIFE I HAVE DONE FOR MY
CHILDREN. >> Reporter: WHERE FOUR SIBLINGS
BATTLE IT OUT FOR CONTROL OF THEIR FATHER'S COMPANY,
APPARENTLY LOCKED IN A SIMILAR BATTLE PLAYING OUT IN REAL LIFE.
ACCORDING TO "THE NEW YORK TIMES" 93-YEAR-OLD RUPERT
MURDOCH ALLEGEDLY SURPRISED THREE OF HIS CHILDREN BY FILING
TO CHANGE AN IRREVOCABLE TRUST TO ENSURE HIS ELDEST SON HAS
SOLE POWER OVER THE BUSINESS WHEN HE DIES.
>> I'M THE ELDEST BOY! >> Reporter: THE GOAL, KEEPING
NEWS CORP'S CONSERVATIVE LEANINGS INTACT.
THE TRUST DESIGNED 25 YEARS AGO HAD PREVIOUSLY PUT THE
CONGLOMERATE IN THE HANDS OF ALL OF HIS FOUR ELDEST CHILDREN.
MURDOCH EXPLAINING THIS IN A 2006 VIDEO.
>> IF I GO UNDER A BUS TOMORROW, IT WILL BE THE FOUR OF THEM WILL
HAVE TO DECIDE WHICH ONE SHOULD LEAD THEM.
>> Reporter: BUT "THE NEW YORK TIMES" REPORTING THE FAMILY
FRACTURED AFTER MURDOCH AND LOCK LYNN PUSHED FOX NEWS FURTHER TO
THE RIGHT WHEN DONALD TRUMP WAS IN OFFICE.
NOW THE MOGUL ARGUING IN COURT THAT THE ONLY WAY TO PRESERVE
THE EMPIRE AND PROTECT ITS VALUE IS BY GIVING LOCHLIN VETO POWER
SO HE CAN'T BE CHALLENGED. IT WOULD NOT AFFECT ANYONE'S
OWNERSHIP STAKE IN THE COMPANY. JAMES, E LIZLIZABETH AND PRUDEN
SWINGING BACK HIRING ATTORNEYS TO CHALLENGE THEIR FATHER'S MOVE
IN COURT. >> THE CHANGE MURDOCH IS LOOKING
TO DO WOULD ALLOW ONE SPECIFIC CHILD TO MAKE ALL THE DECISIONS.
THAT'S WHY THE OTHER THREE ARE SAYING THIS VIOLATES THE SPIRIT
OF THE ORIGINAL TRUST. >> Reporter: A NEVADA PROBATE
COMMISSIONER FINDING MURDOCH CAN AMEND THE TRUST IF HE'S ABLE TO
SHOW HE IS ACTING IN GOOD FAITH AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL HIS
HEIRS. NOW THE DECISION ABOUT WHO WILL
RUN NEWS CORP WILL REST WITH A JUDGE.
>> WHEN WE LOOK AT GOOD FAITH IN THIS CONTEXT, THERE IS NOT AN
EXACT DEFINITION. IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE THAT IT'S
GOOD FAITH, IT IS DONE TO BENEFIT ALL MEMBER, AND THAT'S
HOW IT'S VIEWED. SO THERE'S A VERY BROAD
DEFINITION OF THE THINGS THAT CAN FALL INTO THIS.
>> AND AGAIN, MURDOCH DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE SEEKING TO CHANGE
ANY OF HIS CHILDREN'S STAKE IN THE COMPANY, BUT HE WANTS TO
CEMENT LOCHLIN AS THE ONE FIRMLY IN CHARGE.
THE FAMILY TRUST DOES CONTAIN A PROVISION ALLOWING FOR CHANGES
DONE IN GOOD FAITH AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL MEMBERS.
A TRIAL TO DETERMINE WHETHER MURDOCH HAS MET THAT OBLIGATION
IS SET FOR SEPTEMBER. WIDESPREAD IMPLICATIONS FOR THIS
MASSIVE MEDIA EMPIRE AND IT'S ALL HINGING ON GOOD FAITH.
SO, WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.