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Murdoch Disputes ’60 Minutes’ Talk: A report that Murdoch, chairman of Fox Inc., asked the executive producer of “60 Minutes� about buying the top-rated news show has it backward, Murdoch said. It was the CBS executive who suggested it, Murdoch said, adding that he thought the comment was a joke. Murdoch’s Fox TV group has conducted spectacular raids of CBS, winning rights to National Football League telecasts and taking over eight CBS affiliate stations. But the sale of a network TV news magazine would be unprecedented. New York Newsday reported that Don Hewitt, who founded “60 Minutes� and has led it through three decades, said Murdoch asked him if “CBS would entertain the thought of selling ’60 Minutes.’ � However, Murdoch said in a statement issued by his publicist that it was Hewitt who brought up the subject. Murdoch said he considered it a joke made during a friendly conversation.