James Murdoch resigned as chairman of British pay-TV giant BSkyB yesterday, saying he did not want it to become a "lightning rod" for the hacking scandal at his father Rupert's media empire.

The post was the last major role held in Britain by James Murdoch, who has faced growing pressure over what he knew about the illegal accessing of voicemails at the now-closed News of the World newspaper.

The satellite broadcaster, which is 39 percent owned by Rupert Murdoch's US-based News Corp, announced that James would be replaced by deputy chairman Nicholas Ferguson.

He will stay on as a nonexecutive director of BSkyB, the company added.