British Sky Broadcasting Group said today that chief executive Mr Tony Ball would step down, amid reports that Mr Ball would be succeeded by the son of media baron Mr Rupert Murdoch.
"Mr Ball will continue as chief executive until a successor is appointed, which is likely to be well before his current contract ends on May 31, 2004," the company said.
Press reports this month said that Mr James Murdoch, whose father Rupert owns 34 per cent of the pay-TV company, would take over from Mr Ball.
This month, investors and analysts expressed concern about Mr James Murdoch taking over.
Mr James Murdoch dropped out of Harvard to found the hip-hop record label Rawkus before returning to the family business, running News Corp's Internet units until he became CEO of Murdoch's Asian satellite broadcaster, Star TV, in 2000.
Mr Ball joined BSkyB in June 1999. Since then, the company has returned to profitability and enjoyed strong growth in subscribers.