As Dick Ebersol prepares to resign after 22 years as the top executive at NBC Sports, the NBC affiliates board is saluting him as “an unbelievable supporter” of Peacock affiliates.

“Dick is a true advocate of over the air broadcasting, and I respect him incredibly,” Brian Lawlor, chairman of the NBC affiliates board, told Broadcasting & Cable after news of Ebersol’s departure broke. “He’s been a passionate television executive, a great creative mind, and a shrewd dealmaker.”

NBC made the news official this afternoon, sending out a press release that confirmed earlier reports that Ebersol was leaving the network after he was unable to agree to terms on a new contract.

“Dick Ebersol is an incredible talent whose contributions to the company over the last four decades in sports, news and entertainment are unsurpassed,” said NBCU’s Steve Burke in the release.