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Litner a ‘free agent’ after 10 years at Comcast / NBC

Jon Litner’s decision to leave NBC Sports Group at the end of the year was months in the making.

Several months ago, the sports media veteran told his boss, NBC Sports Group Chairman Mark Lazarus, that he wanted to explore something new. Litner had been with the Comcast-owned group for 10 years — the longest he’s worked at any job.

He was growing weary of a regular commute that took him from Comcast’s hometown of Philadelphia to NBC Sports Group’s headquarters in Stamford, Conn.

Litner’s departure coincides with an unprecedented level of stability with NBC’s regional sports networks, most of which have long-term local media rights deals with the teams they cover. Over the past several months, Litner persuaded Washington Capitals and Wizards owner Ted Leonsis not to create his own regional sports network in the Washington, D.C., market. Though a contract has yet to be signed, Litner and Leonsis shook hands on a new deal that runs to 2032.

NBC Sports Group’s next big local media rights deal doesn’t expire until 2019, when the Cubs are up in Chicago.

Litner’s decision also was rooted in a desire for change. He sees himself as more of a builder than a caretaker. After all, he was the top executive that launched SportsNet New York in the country’s biggest media market in 2006.

“I will become a free agent for the first time in two decades,” Litner said in an email that was sent to NBC Sports Group employees last week. “After a break to reconnect with my family, I look forward to taking up a new leadership role down the road in this dynamic age of sports and entertainment media. Until then, I will act as an advisor to Mark Lazarus as needed and work with him to ensure an orderly transition.”

NBC has not said how it plans to replace Litner.

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