Media scion James Murdoch, his father's heir apparent, has come under fire over claims by former newspaper executives that he misled MPs about what he knew, and when, about Britain's phone-hacking scandal.

The allegation raises questions not only about his succession to the helm of the media empire but what he may have relayed to Rupert Murdoch, the CEO and controlling shareholder. One media expert said on Friday that, as far as the leadership was concerned, James was already out of the running.

"When Rupert Murdoch is replaced, we now know it's not going to be James Murdoch," newspaper analyst Ken Doctor of Outsell Inc. said.

The younger Murdoch's credibility was tested after he told a parliamentary committee on Tuesday that he was not aware of evidence that eavesdropping at the News of the World went beyond a jailed rogue reporter.

That statement was contradicted on Thursday by two former top staffers, who insisted that they told him years ago about an email that suggested wrongdoing at the paper was more widespread than the company let on.