IN THE BLOODLINES: JAMES MURDOCH NAMED TO YANKEENETS BOARD

          JAMES MURDOCH, the 26-year-old son of News Corp. Chair
     RUPERT MURDOCH and President of the company's News America
     Digital Publishing, will join 12 other directors on the
     board of the proposed YankeeNets, according to Harry
     Berkowitz of NEWSDAY.  The position puts Murdoch "in a
     position to help decide many key issues for the new sports
     company, including whether to renew the cable TV rights" of
     the Yankees and Nets with their respective carriers, MSG
     Network and Fox Sports NY, or form a new partnership or
     their own cable network.  YankeeNets spokesperson Howard
     Rubenstein said the fact that News Corp. owns the Dodgers
     should "pose no conflict," as James Murdoch "does not
     personally" own the team (NEWSDAY, 4/16).