Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. has thrown in with the Chandlers, agreeing to take a minority stake in their deal, according to a News Corp. insider who spoke on condition of anonymity because he had not been authorized to discuss the situation. Under the deal, News Corp. , owner of the Fox TV network, cable’s Fox News channel and the 20th Century Fox studio , would get an operating agreement allowing it to cut costs by combining certain noneditorial operations of Newsday with those of its own New York Post.

People at News Corp. are doubtful that the agreement will come to fruition, the insider said, explaining that animosity between Tribune’s top brass and the Chandlers makes the family’s bid a long shot.

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