Next week, a probate official will hear evidence in a clash between Rupert Murdoch and some of his children over who should control his media companies after he dies.

“The Motion for Access to the hearings in this case is denied,” probate commissioner Edmund J. Gorman Jr. ruled today, just four days before the Murdoch family succession case is set to start in Reno. “All hearings in this case shall remain closed to the public and to the media, including the movants.”

Rupert Murdoch, owner of Fox news and the Wall Street Journal, is fighting to change his trust and give son Lachlan full control of media empire.

The secret family affair now playing out inside a Reno, Nevada, courtroom like a page ripped from the scripted fireworks of the HBO show “Succession,” won’t be seen on television, or even in the written press.

A unique court case has begun in Nevada this week. At stake is the future of the Murdoch empire and the decision about his succession plan.

News Corp. patriarch Rupert Murdoch, 93, wants to ensure eldest son Lachlan gets control of family trust, which has major stakes in Fox News parent Fox and the Wall Street Journal.

Rupert Murdoch’s plan to help one of his sons get more voting power and give him sole control over the companies is turning into a real-life ”Succession” plot.

Thanks to billionaire Rupert Murdoch’s outsize personality, his vast sway within the news industry and his role as a kingmaker in conservative politics, there’s long been heightened interest in his megadeals,