Daily News from New York, New York • 65

NEWS CORP PFIZER GOOGLE TASER INTL BLOCK LIBERTY MEDIA Ignoring dip in oil prices, investors pull back on stocks 66 cents $17.10 12 cents $9.51 38 cents $28.41 $3.20 $172.55 $7.63 $54.12 22 cents $49.59 Page 66 nn dq roam jdds mm JUU Control of News Corp. at stake NEWS CORP. CHIEF Rupert Murdoch has made a move to head off any surprise hostile takeover threat from Liberty Media boss John Malone. The suddenly shaken media mogul has adopted a poison pill a device aimed at scaring off predators who might want to snare his family-run empire. defensive defensive The move came BY PHYLLIS FURMAN DAILY NEWS BUSINESS WRITER after Malone, a wily media deal-maker and cable industry pioneer, struck a $1.5 billion deal that will allow him to increase his voting stake in News Corp.

to 17 from 9. r-f I The move has Murdoch fretting that a one-time ally is plotting to take over his entire fiefdom, which includes the New York Post, Fox Television Network and movie studio 20th Century Fox. "He must be feeling insecure," a prominent media investor said of Murdoch. "This came out of nowhere." Just last week, Murdoch was still talking tough. pill in place, if Malone continued to buy News voting shares, a huge number of new, cheap shares would automatically be created that all the other shareholders in the media giant would be able to buy.

That would drastically shrink Malone's stake and cripple his attempt to take over the company." The poison pill is subject to a shareholder vote within the next year, analysts said. Murdoch currently holds 30 of News voting shares, compared with Malone's current 9. But Malone is the company's largest overall shareholder with a 1 7 stake. While Murdoch has thwarted any takeover plans for now, Malone has clearly boosted his leverage at News Corp. "Malone is so smart, he's doubled his power," the media investor said.

Count on the Liberty Media chief to pressure Murdoch into buying some of Liberty's assets like its Starz Encore pay cable 3 networks. Meanwhile, Murdoch's poison pill move is expected to depress News share price, even though the company has been performing well, analysts said. Investors can no longer count on the possibility of a would-be buyer bidding up News Corp. stock, which yesterday fell more than 3, or 66 cents, to $17.10. "All the shareholders should be angry," said Andy Baker, an analyst at Cathay Financial.

"This means no can take over the company without Murdoch's -n say-so. Murdoch is looking out for himself." Murdoch told analysts he was "not losing any sleep" over Malone's stalking moves. Holding on to voting control is crucial for Murdoch. The media baron wants his two sons, Lachlan and James, to succeed fit mm him one day a plan that has riled some shareholders. "(Murdoch's) having voting control is very important, if he wants his sons in there.

No one else will," said Uri Landesman, di rector of research for I Vfc I SB Npws nrnnratmn Federated Investors. With the poison Rupert Murdoch (r.) could be facing battle with Liberty Media chief John Malone (L). Fl ftaonMBiniM Tienes hldg. ft ffoces aondl sEnops its unrivalled location and majestic facade," said his son, Robert Speyer. Its elaborate south facade is a city landmark and may not be altered in the renovation.

Tishman Speyer Properties is making the purchase which is expected to close by year's end in partnership with the New York City Employees' Retirement System and the Teachers' Retirement System. ty which looks a little bit like a French chateau might be used as a hotel. Instead, Speyer's going for a Class A office facility. He will construct a new lobby, rehab the tenant floors and turn loading docks into shops. "The Times building represents an extraordinary opportunity to create a unique office environment, one that recognizes the great historic significance and inherent value of the property, with which was built in 1913 and is 15 stories tall.

The Times will remain a tenant until 2007, when it relocates to a sleek new skyscraper on Eighth Ave. and 40th designed by celebrity architect Renzo Piano and built by Forest City Ratner. Then Speyer will do an extensive renovation, and remake the old building for 21st century use. When it went onto the sale market, there was talk that the handsome proper BY LORE CROGHAN DAILY NEWS BUSINESS WRITER THE PLACE THAT New York Times reporters and editors have called home for nearly a century will become a tony office building when the paper moves out in a couple years. Jerry Speyer owner of world-famous Rockefeller Center and the Chrysler Building is buying the Times Building at 229 W.

43rd St. for $175 million. He's got big plans for the property, ID.