Sinclair, Inc. has reportedly fired the chief executive of its international sports network Tennis Channel, according to a report.
On Friday, the Wall Street Journal said Ken Solomon was informed his last day with the company will be Monday, September 9.
In addition to his duties as chairman and CEO of the Tennis Channel, Solomon is a board member and an advisor to Dr. Phil McGraw’s upstart television network Merit Street Media. According to the Journal, executives at Sinclair were frustrated by the amount of time Solomon was spending at Merit Street, which led to his firing.
Prior to the dismissal, Sinclair sought a commitment from Solomon that he would spend most of his time at the company’s Santa Monica offices, the Journal said. Solomon recently bought property in Texas; McGraw’s media outlet is based in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
A spokesperson for Sinclair declined to comment when reached by The Desk after hours on Friday, saying the company does not speak publicly about personnel matters.
The Tennis Channel was launched on cable and satellite platforms in 2003. It was acquired by Sinclair in 2016 for around $350 million. Solomon served as CEO at the time, and he and other Tennis Channel executives ultimately moved over to Sinclair as part of the deal.
Under Sinclair’s ownership, the Tennis Channel has expanded its presence to international markets, largely through the use of free, ad-supported streaming television (FAST) platforms. In the United States, it offers live events and ancillary programs through a FAST channel called T2.
Earlier this year, reports emerged that Sinclair had hired financial advisors to weigh the sale of the Tennis Channel and around 60 broadcast TV stations. The Journal said the company will still proceed with the possible sale of those assets after Solomon departs.
