The New York Times claims that Rupert Murdoch's attempt to alter who would control his media empire's future has been thwarted.The 93-year-old is accused of behaving in "bad faith" by trying to change his family trust to benefit his oldest son, Lachlan, according to a sealed court document, according to the newspaper. The trust currently distributes ownership of the business evenly among Mr. Murdoch's four eldest children, Lachlan, James, Elisabeth, and Prudence, upon his passing. A move to alter the trust's conditions, however, was turned down by Nevada Commissioner Edmund Gorman.Lachlan is head of Fox News parent Fox Corp and News Corp, which owns UK titles including The Sun and The Times.

Mr Murdoch's proposed amendment would have blocked any interference by three of Lachlan's siblings, who are more politically moderate.Rupert Murdoch, who is now 93, had been engaged in a lengthy court battle to try to hand over control of his media empire to his eldest son Lachlan when he dies.

Lachlan, who is more politically conservative than his siblings, would in theory consolidate the right-wing stance of some parts of Murdoch's media empire - especially Fox News.

Today a document obtained by the New York Times revealed the commissioner in the case has whole-heartedly rejected the plan to change his trust, calling it a "bad faith" deal from Murdoch and his eldest son.

By bringing this case, Rupert Murdoch has made patently and painfully clear which of his children he favours.

There is some fascinating detail of art imitating life as the court heard how Mr Murdoch's children had started secretly discussing a strategy for their father's death.

They were prompted by an episode of Succession where media tycoon Logan Roy dies, throwing his family and empire into chaos.

The reality is that there will no doubt be more family infighting, as Rupert Murdoch's lawyers say he is likely to appeal the judgment.Mr Gorman said the plan to change the trust was a "carefully crafted charade", according to The New York Times.The newspaper also described that, in the commissioner's opinion, it was an attempt to "permanently cement Lachlan Murdoch's executive roles" inside the empire "regardless of the impacts such control would have over the companies or the beneficiaries" of the family trust.Potentially, three of the heirs could out-vote a fourth, setting up a battle over the future of the companies.His lawyer, Adam Streisand, said they were disappointed with the ruling and intended to appeal, The New York Times reported.

Sky News, which Mr Murdoch launched in the UK in 1989, is no longer part of his empire.

At the end of 2018, Fox's film entertainment assets, such as The Simpsons and the Avatar film franchise, were sold to Disney - while the company's 39% stake in Sky was sold to Comcast.