Lachlan Murdoch made his first major public appearance since being anointed as the man to lead the family business forward last week in New York. And the message he delivered should be resonating in Australian media.

In short, anyone hoping generational changes within one of the world’s most powerful media dynasties could lead to a softer approach at some of its more controversial outlets (i.e its 24 hour news channels, including Sky in Australia) is likely to be disappointed.

Murdoch was elevated above his younger brother James earlier this year to become the CEO-in-waiting of ‘New Fox’ - what is left after the family sells most of its sprawling film and television assets to US media behemoth Disney. He is, of course, also the co-chairman, alongside his father Rupert, of News Corp, the better known company in Australia that owns a string of newspapers and TV assets in this country.

The New Fox business is arguably much more substantial than it has been made out to be. It will house the Fox free-to-air broadcast channel in the US, and the American Fox Sports cable channels, which together control lucrative rights for sport including, some NFL games.