James Murdoch climbs News Corp.'s ladder

It's widely believed that Deputy Chairman/COO Chase Carey is the heir apparent to Rupert Murdoch if and when the chairman steps down from his throne of power at News Corp. (Nasdaq: NWSA). That would mean that service providers everywhere have been developing playbooks to deal with the pay-me-more attitude Carey brings to the negotiation table.

Now it appears those playbooks may need to be modified. Murdoch's son James has been named deputy COO and chairman-CEO, International, reporting (for now) to Carey. James Murdoch is quoted in a news release as stating "I am delighted to work even more closely with Chase Carey, whose extraordinary leadership is felt in every part of the business."

Industry insiders have noticed Murdoch's penchant to promoted family members, so, even with this public backslapping happiness, Roy Greenslade, in a Guardian blog, notes that the promotion puts James "in the pole position" to take over the whole thing. Which, in the end, could matter a lot to the cable industry.

For more:
- see this news release
- the Guardian has this story

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