Digital publisher Crikey had a 5000-strong, 25 per cent jump in subscribers after running a series of articles about Lachlan Murdoch, reaping a “windfall to the tune of $500,000” in the process, Mr Murdoch’s lawyers told a Sydney court.

The high-profile defamation case, in which Mr Murdoch will take the stand against Crikey, has been delayed from late March until October 9, after a Federal Court judge allowed his team to file a revised, broader case.