Bookie tips Murdoch to beat Branson in digital paper chase

25 Nov 2010

Irish online betting firm Paddy Power is taking bets on which soon-to-be-launched digital “newspaper” will have the highest circulation by the end of 2011.

Both Richard Branson’s Virgin and Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp are set to release custom-built iPad publications over the next couple of weeks and Paddy Power is tipping Murdoch’s The Daily to steal the show.

The digital publication, which has been secretly under development in conjunction with Apple CEO Steve Jobs, has been installed as the red-hot 2/5 favourite to have the highest circulation at the end of 2011 with Virgin’s Project considered a less likely 7/4 shot, according to the bookie.

Paddy Power said, “With Steve Jobs’ involvement, News Corp’s digital publication is a very strong favourite but this is quite literally a ‘virgin’ space so I guess anything could happen.”

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com