Sinclair Broadcast Group has ousted longtime Tennis Channel chairman and chief executive officer Ken Solomon, citing time spent in non-work activities as reasoning for his departure.
Specifically, the parent company took issue with the executive’s advisory and board member role for Dr. Phil McGraw’s Merit Street Media company, per an exclusive report from the Wall Street Journal.
The shakeup, which comes amid the channel’s focused coverage on the US Open through Sept. 9 (also Solomon’s last day at the network), will not hinder Sinclair Inc.‘s aim to sell the channel.
According to unnamed sources, Solomon’s efforts with Dr. Phil were seen as a “growing distraction.” However, per the report, those close to Solomon said the businessman has held similar roles outside the company throughout his tenure at the Tennis Channel, a post he’s been in since 2005, to no complaints.
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