Reports: Murdoch to Step Down at Sky

LONDON, January 22: James Murdoch is said to be planning to
step down as the chief executive of BSkyB later this year to take up a post at
News Corporation headquarters, wire reports indicate.

The Mail on Sunday
yesterday reported that Murdoch is considering stepping down this summer, with
SKY Italia chief Tom Mockridge being cited as a likely successor. News Corp.
chairman and CEO Rupert Murdoch is said to be keen on having the younger
Murdoch move to New York for a senior post at the company’s headquarters.
Lachlan Murdoch, who for some time was considered as the senior Murdoch’s
chosen successor, left his position as COO of News Corp. in 2005.

James Murdoch was tapped as chief executive of Sky in 2003
when Tony Ball stepped down. At the time, he was running News Corp.’s Asian
arm, STAR, out of Hong Kong.