Media magnate Rupert Murdoch is launching a News Digital Media unit in Australia to "repackage and repurpose" the journalism produced by his Down Under publishing empire News Ltd.

The new division will swallow the company's existing online arm, News Interactive and will be helmed by Richard Freudenstein, currently chief operating officer of the Murdoch clan's UK outpost BSkyB.

News Ltd chairman/ceo John Hartigan says the unit's remit is to rapidly grow online operations "into a broader digital business", encompassing existing websites and new businesses spanning internet, mobile, broadband and other emerging technologies.

News Digital Media's operations will include online marketplace sites such as foxsports.com.au and related activities involving pay television group Foxtel, also part of the Murdoch empire.

Data sourced from Sydney Morning Herald; additional content by WARC staff