W. Europe Viewed as Cable Hot Spot

CHICAGO —  News Corp.’s Rupert Murdoch sees Western Europe as the next region for “real growth” in cable, which he expects to be the dominant vehicle for voice, data and video delivery to homes and offices worldwide.

“I don’t think there’s any doubt that the future is with broadband cable,” said Murdoch, who is chairman and chief executive of News Corp., the global media company whose vast holdings include British Sky Broadcasting, a Britain-based cable and satellite service.

Murdoch, who has made substantial investments in the direct-broadcast satellite business, said Western Europe will be the next region, after the U.S., to see big growth in cable systems. Cable, when married with advanced technology, is expected to provide homes and businesses with a new array of services, including telephone, high-speed Internet access and interactive TV.

“There’s nothing DBS can’t do that at the moment cable can’t do a lot better,” said Murdoch, who was the closing keynote speaker at the National Cable Television conference here.

Still, “there will always be room for broadcasters,” said Murdoch, whose company owns Fox, the No. 4-rated TV network in the U.S.

In addition, Murdoch said he plans to continue to extend the Fox brand on the Internet and will introduce six to 12 new Fox Web sites, or “channels” in the next year.