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James Murdoch to resign as BSkyB chairman James Murdoch resigns as BSkyB chairman
(40 minutes later)
James Murdoch is to step down as chairman of UK satellite broadcaster BSkyB, but will remain on the board. James Murdoch has resigned his role as chairman of UK satellite broadcaster BSkyB, but will remain on the board.
His father Rupert founded its parent company News Corporation, which had to drop its bid for BSkyB amid a phone-hacking scandal at a UK newspaper.His father Rupert founded its parent company News Corporation, which had to drop its bid for BSkyB amid a phone-hacking scandal at a UK newspaper.
Sources told Robert Peston, the BBC's business editor, that it was James Murdoch's decision to leave. href="http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201204031420357369A" >James Murdoch said in a statement that he did want want BSkyB to be undermined by "matters outside this company".
They said it was an attempt to pre-empt further criticism as investigations continue into phone hacking. Sources told Robert Peston, the BBC's business editor, that it was Mr Murdoch's own decision to leave.
In February, James Murdoch stepped down as chairman of News International, which published the News of the World. Mr Murdoch said on Tuesday: "As attention continues to be paid to past events at News International, I am determined that the interests of BSkyB should not be undermined by matters outside the scope of this company.
It shut down the Sunday title last July amid a storm of allegations of widespread wrongdoing, including the hacking of the phone of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler. "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 organisation."
Mr Murdoch said last month that he had moved to New York to work on News Corp's pay-TV business. In February, James Murdoch stepped down as chairman of News International, publisher of the News of the World. The Sunday title was shut down last July amid a storm of allegations of widespread wrongdoing, including the hacking of the phone of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler.
He said then that he had moved to New York to work on News Corp's pay-TV businesses around the world.
Our correspondent says that Mr Murdoch has been braced for serious criticism of his stewardship of News International by the Commons Culture Media and Sport select committee.
However, he adds that his resignation has not been prompted by any advance knowledge of the report into hacking being written by the committee.
There is also a review being conducted by Ofcom, the media regulator, of whether British Sky Broadcasting is fit and proper to continue holding a broadcasting licence.
News Corp owns 39% of BSkyB and had wanted to buy the whole of the firm.News Corp owns 39% of BSkyB and had wanted to buy the whole of the firm.
'No blind eye''No blind eye'
James Murdoch, who is deputy chief operating officer at News Corp, has repeatedly denied knowing about phone hacking at the News of the World.James Murdoch, who is deputy chief operating officer at News Corp, has repeatedly denied knowing about phone hacking at the News of the World.
He said in a letter to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Committee last month that he accepted his share of the blame for not uncovering phone hacking at the News of the World sooner but denied he had turned a "blind eye" to allegations of criminal wrongdoing.He said in a letter to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Committee last month that he accepted his share of the blame for not uncovering phone hacking at the News of the World sooner but denied he had turned a "blind eye" to allegations of criminal wrongdoing.
A representative of the Hacked Off campaign group, which represents victims of phone hacking, said the change in role did not get those affected nearer to the truth about what happened. A representative of the Hacked Off campaign group, which helps victims of phone hacking, said the change in role did not get those affected nearer to the truth about what happened.
"It's quite clear that this is, as befits a news family, a form of news management," said Evan Harris, a former Liberal Democrat MP and member of the group."It's quite clear that this is, as befits a news family, a form of news management," said Evan Harris, a former Liberal Democrat MP and member of the group.
"But I repeat what the victims that Hacked Off seeks to represent want, is the full story to come out and not just people leaving a small fraction of their income behind as they go on to other parts of the business," he told BBC News."But I repeat what the victims that Hacked Off seeks to represent want, is the full story to come out and not just people leaving a small fraction of their income behind as they go on to other parts of the business," he told BBC News.
Nicholas Ferguson, who has been with the company since 2004, will take over as chairman of BSkyB.Nicholas Ferguson, who has been with the company since 2004, will take over as chairman of BSkyB.