James Murdoch quits TV
Source: Agencies |
April 4, 2012, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
MEDIA executive James Murdoch, under pressure over his role in Britain's tabloid phone hacking scandal, has stepped down as chairman of British Sky Broadcasting PLC, the company announced yesterday.
BSkyB said he would be replaced as chairman by Nicholas Ferguson, the previous deputy chairman. Murdoch remains a member of the BSkyB board.
It was the latest setback for Murdoch, 39, a top executive in his father Rupert Murdoch's global media empire. Murdoch - the former head of his father's British newspaper division - has been facing severe criticism as a result of the phone hacking scandal that closed the company's News of the World tabloid in Britain.
James Murdoch said in a letter to the BSkyB board yesterday that he was "determined that the interests of BSkyB should not be undermined by matters outside the scope of this company."
"I am aware that my role as chairman could become a lightning rod for BSkyB and I believe that my resignation will help to ensure that there is no false conflation with events at a separate organization," he said.
Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, which owns 39 percent of BSkyB, had no comment.
In a whirlwind of resignations and retrenchment, James Murdoch quit as chairman of News International, News Corp's British newspaper division in February. At the time, he indicated he was going to concentrate on managing parts of his father's extensive television businesses.
He has also resigned from the boards of auctioneer Sotheby's and prominent pharmaceutical firm GlaxoSmithKline PLC but remains deputy chief operating officer of News Corp.
News Corp has been struggling for months to shake off the damage from the hacking furor, which derailed its plans to take charge of the remaining 61 percent of BSkyB last summer.
James Murdoch had been widely thought to be the heir to his father's media empire, and the proposed takeover of BSkyB would have boosted his profile within the company, as well as giving News Corp full control of a lucrative broadcaster with an extensive sports and news franchise.
The News of the World tabloid was closed in July on bad publicity and falling revenue due to revelations its journalists had listened to the phone voicemails of celebrities, politicians and crime victims in a quest for scoops.
BSkyB said he would be replaced as chairman by Nicholas Ferguson, the previous deputy chairman. Murdoch remains a member of the BSkyB board.
It was the latest setback for Murdoch, 39, a top executive in his father Rupert Murdoch's global media empire. Murdoch - the former head of his father's British newspaper division - has been facing severe criticism as a result of the phone hacking scandal that closed the company's News of the World tabloid in Britain.
James Murdoch said in a letter to the BSkyB board yesterday that he was "determined that the interests of BSkyB should not be undermined by matters outside the scope of this company."
"I am aware that my role as chairman could become a lightning rod for BSkyB and I believe that my resignation will help to ensure that there is no false conflation with events at a separate organization," he said.
Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, which owns 39 percent of BSkyB, had no comment.
In a whirlwind of resignations and retrenchment, James Murdoch quit as chairman of News International, News Corp's British newspaper division in February. At the time, he indicated he was going to concentrate on managing parts of his father's extensive television businesses.
He has also resigned from the boards of auctioneer Sotheby's and prominent pharmaceutical firm GlaxoSmithKline PLC but remains deputy chief operating officer of News Corp.
News Corp has been struggling for months to shake off the damage from the hacking furor, which derailed its plans to take charge of the remaining 61 percent of BSkyB last summer.
James Murdoch had been widely thought to be the heir to his father's media empire, and the proposed takeover of BSkyB would have boosted his profile within the company, as well as giving News Corp full control of a lucrative broadcaster with an extensive sports and news franchise.
The News of the World tabloid was closed in July on bad publicity and falling revenue due to revelations its journalists had listened to the phone voicemails of celebrities, politicians and crime victims in a quest for scoops.
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