ABC programming chief McPherson abruptly resigns

LOS ANGELES – ABC's programming chief Stephen McPherson is abruptly leaving the job.

The Disney-ABC Television Group released a statement Tuesday announcing that McPherson had submitted his resignation as president of the ABC Entertainment Group and it was accepted by the company.

In the release, McPherson was quoted as thanking the people he worked with and wishing them well.

ABC said a replacement for McPherson will be announced shortly.

McPherson's resignation from the top programming job at ABC comes just days before the network's presentation of its fall schedule to a meeting of TV reporters and critics.