The Bancroft family, which controls 64% of the voting power at Dow Jones, met Monday in Boston to deliberate on Rupert Murdoch's $5 billion offer for the company. Divisions among family members make the ultimate decision impossible to call. Christopher Bancroft, a staunch opponent of the sale, said he expects the family to decide by Friday. Jane MacElree, a family trustee who holds 15% of the company's voting power and had been considered a swing vote, told the family she will oppose the sale. Her vote will run in opposition to those of several of her seven children. The Cook branch of the family, which controls 23% of voting power, is expected to vote in favor. Opponents of the sale remain unconvinced that The Wall Street Journal's editorial integrity will be maintained under Murdoch, even with agreed-upon guidelines in place. Two Denver trustees, who control 9.1% of voting power, want the bid bumped up 10-20% for the family's supervoting shares, though Murdoch has indicated he will not sweeten his offer. If the family cannot decide, Murdoch might put down an "exploding offer" with a date of 
expiration. Because most non-Bancroft shareholders favor the buyout, Murdoch needs only about half the Bancrofts' shares to clinch the deal.
Sources: Wall Street Journal, CNBC
Commentary: Dow Jones Board Approves Murdoch Bid; Bancrofts to Decide • Brad Greenspan Takes Case to Dow Jones Shareholders • At Long Last, Dow Jones And News Corp. Reach (Possible) Deal
Stocks/ETFs to watch: Dow Jones & Company Inc. (DJ), News Corp. (NWS). Competitors: Reuters Group PLC [ADR] (RTRSY). ETFs: PowerShares Dynamic Media Portfolio ETF (PBS)
Earnings call transcripts: Dow Jones Q1 2007, News Corporation F3Q07
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