Citing economic factors and programming requirements from ESPN Radio as reasons for the decision, KFNC (97.5 FM) said today that Chronicle columnist Jerome Solomon has been removed as a regular host of the station’s afternoon drive time sports talk show.

Dave Tepper, the station’s new program director, said Carl Dukes will host from 3 to 5 p.m., and Calvin Murphy’s show will remain in its 5-to-7 p.m. slot.

Starting next week, 97.5 FM will carry ESPN Radio personality Scott Van Pelt’s show from 2 to 3 p.m., a previously slot occupied by local programming.

With one less hour for local programming, Tepper said the station needs more ad revenue from its existing shows. He said the station needed a host who could generate additional revenue, and Solomon is prohibited under the terms of his employment by the Chronicle from selling or reading advertising on the radio station.

“If they can’t afford to keep me because I can’t sell ads, I guess I understand,” Solomon said. “There’s not a lot I can do about it. I do think the station is not as good without me.”

Tepper said the station was pleased to add the Van Pelt show and added that he hoped that Solomon would continue his affiliation with 97.5 FM in a reduced role.

Tags: affiliation, afternoon sports, calvin murphy, drive time, economic factors, espn, espn radio, jerome solomon, kfnc, program director, programming requirements, radio personality, radio station, regul, scott van pelt, time sports

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