James has completed elementary school in Horace Mann parochial, Bronx District, New York.

James Murdoch, son of News Corp chief executive Rupert Murdoch, was a step closer to inheriting his 80-year-old father, Rupert Murdoch, after being promoted to deputy chief operating officer of News Corp, according to foreign media reports.

After serving as head of News Corp's Asia and Europe operations, James, now 38, is currently in charge of a business that will include all News Corp's global operations. The business includes the Fox television Network, the Wall Street Journal, the 21st Century Fox Film Company, and newspaper and digital television operations in Europe and Asia. After serving as deputy chief operating officer of News Corp, James will head to News Corp's New York headquarters.

David C. Joyce, an investment company Miller Tabak analyst David Joes, said, "After a world of whitewash, James is gradually getting promoted." Allowing James to inherit Murdoch's mantle is part of the Murdoch family's overall strategy. ”

In a statement in Wednesday, News Corp said James will continue to report to chief Operating Officer Ches Kere Chase Carey and will be responsible for the company's European and Asian operations after becoming deputy chief operating officer of News Corp. Mr Joyce believes that if Mr Murdoch has to retire in the short term, then Carlyle will be the chief executive and James will follow Carlyle.

News Corp's shares rose 25 cents in regular trading in the Nasdaq market in Wednesday, at $17.51. News Corp's share price has risen 20% per cent since this year.

Back to New York

James has completed elementary school in Horace Mann parochial in Bronx District, New York. He joined News Corp in 1996, before abandoning Harvard University and starting a hip-hop recording company. In 2000, James's father, Rupert Murdoch, sent him to Asia as Chairman and chief executive of the Asia Star TV board. James worked in Hong Kong, but spent most of his experience in the Indian market, developing a pay-TV business that was still in its infancy.

In 2003, James, who was 30 years old, became chief executive of BSkyB (Airways Sky Broadcasting Group PLC) and News Corp held a holding stake in BSkyB. In 2007, James took over News Corp's Asian and European operations, which accounted for about 20% of News Corp's 32.8 billion-year revenue.

Mr Murdoch said at a News Corp annual shareholder meeting last October that he had no plans to retire. Murdoch then said he wanted to be replaced by one of his children. Murdoch has had three marriages, with a total of 6 children.