• Loading stock data...
Friday, July 18, 2025

Sinclair Fires Tennis Channel CEO Over Work With Dr. Phil

  • Ken Solomon had led the network for years.
  • Sinclair has been exploring a sale of the channel since earlier this year.
Tennis Channel
Tennis Channel

Ken Solomon, the veteran CEO and chair of the Tennis Channel, is being let go by the cable channel’s parent company, Sinclair Inc., industry sources confirmed to Front Office Sports. It’s a major executive shake-up in the closing days of the US Open.

The departure, originally reported by The Wall Street Journal, stems from an apparent disagreement about Solomon’s role since last year as a board member and adviser of Merit Street Media, the company founded and led by television personality Dr. Phil McGraw. Sinclair CEO Chris Ripley is believed to have signed off on Solomon’s activity, but the WSJ said that the Merit work had grown more time-consuming.

The dismissal takes effect Monday.

Solomon had the Tennis Channel since early 2005 and was deeply intertwined with the outlet’s brand and operations. His stewardship had helped make the channel something of an outlier as many other corners of sports media experienced significant declines. The network—also including a robust streaming operation and Tennis.com—has been a solid, if somewhat unspectacular, presence with its single-sport format, generating $67 million in revenue in its most recent quarter, up 12% from the same period in 2023.



The executive had also been trying to lead a sale of the network, a development first reported by FOS in February. Those efforts have not yet yielded an agreement.

The Tennis Channel declined to comment. Sinclair and Merit Street Media did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Alex Schiffer contributed reporting.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Aura farming tiktoks

The ‘Aura Farming’ Boat Dance Taking Over the Sports World

An unlikely viral boat dance has ignited the sports world.

Unrivaled Founder Says Growing League Has ‘No Conflict’ With WNBA

Alex Bazzell co-founded Unrivaled with Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart.
exclusive

WNBA, Union Make Little Progress On CBA At All-Star Meeting

Over 40 players showed up for labor negotiations with the league.

T.J. Watt Becomes NFL’s Highest-Paid Non-QB

Watt’s new Steelers contract comes with $108 million fully guaranteed.

Featured Today

Jul 21, 2024; Ayrshire, SCT; Xander Schauffele celebrates with Claret Jug after winning the Open Championship golf tournament at Royal Troon.

The Boozy History and Traditions of The Open’s Claret Jug

The Open awards the world’s most famous wine decanter.
2025 PDC World Darts Championship Final - Luke Littler vs Michael Van Gerwen
July 16, 2025

A Teen Darts Prodigy Is Becoming Bigger Than the Game Itself

Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler is cashing in on his devastatingly accurate shot.
May 31, 2025; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Sydney McLaughin-Levrone (USA) reacts before the women's 100m hurdles during the Grand Slam Track Philadelphia at Franklin Field
exclusive
July 13, 2025

Track’s New Money Is Running Into Old Problems

The sport’s big-money era has hit some speed bumps in 2025.
Bobbleheads are seen at Vintage Indy Sports, Tuesday, April 29, 2025 in Speedway. The local sports memorabilia store opened recently.
July 12, 2025

Baseball’s Bobbleheads Are the Center of the Collectibles Universe

Baseball’s most important keepsake drives long lines—and big business.

Netflix Beats Projections Again—and Plots Big Holiday Sports Slate

The streaming giant again beats analyst projections in every respect.
Jul 15, 2025; Cumberland, Georgia, USA; National League designated hitter Kyle Schwarber (12) of the Philadelphia Phillies hits a home run in the swing off of after the 2025 MLB All Star Game ended in a tie at Truist Park.
July 16, 2025

MLB All-Star Game Viewership Dips Despite Historic Swing-Off

Game viewership falls 3% despite late dramatics in the unique tiebreaker.
July 17, 2025

ESPN Bidding Against NBC, Apple for MLB Rights Package

The league continues to negotiate with multiple media-rights bidders.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
July 15, 2025

MLB Home Run Derby Draws 5.7M Viewers on ESPN, Up 5%

ESPN reverses the trend from last year and registers audience growth.
July 15, 2025

WNBA Hits Fourth-Highest ABC Viewership With Clark-Bueckers Duel

Clark missed the first Fever vs. Wings game with an injury.
Brittney Griner and Caitlin Clark
exclusive
July 15, 2025

‘Good Morning America’ Will Air From WNBA All-Star in First

The All-Star Game’s relevance has exploded with the league in recent years.
NBC Sports
exclusive
July 14, 2025

NBC Hiring Ex-Hawks Exec Grant Liffmann As NBA Front Office Insider

Liffmann spent the last three years with Atlanta after covering the Warriors.