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Posted: Mon., Jan. 22, 2007, 6:34am PT

BSkyB dismisses Murdoch rumors

Reports claim Mockridge will take reins in U.K.

James Murdoch

Murdoch

LONDON — Reports that BSkyB topper James Murdoch will leave the satcaster in the fall in order to go to New York and work directly for his father at News Corp. have been dismissed as "speculation."

A spokesman for BSkyB was responding to claims that Murdoch, who recently bought a 17.9% stake in ITV, Blighty's biggest private terrestrial web, is preparing his exit strategy.

The Mail on Sunday was the latest publication to carry a story saying that Murdoch is to quit.

But rival paper the Daily Telegraph on Monday dismissed the story and quoted "sources close to the Murdoch family" saying it was untrue.

Speculation has repeatedly linked the BSkyB CEO role with Sky Italia topper Tom Mockridge, highly regarded at News Corp. after bringing Sky Italia into the black last year.

In a recent interview for BBC Radio, undertaken following the "dawn raid" on ITV, Murdoch, 34, said he was "more than happy" with his current job.

Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

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