Packer's last "Primetime With the Packman," WFNZ's highest-profile show, aired Wednesday with the annual pre-Thanksgiving Street Turkeys charity show. Packer did not mention on the air that it would be his last broadcast. Guest hosts have been handling the time slot since.

CBS Radio offered Packer a new contract for the station's mainstay afternoon show, but they did not come to terms.

"We weren't able to reach an agreement," D.J. Stout, operations manager for WFNZ-AM, said Monday. "We wish him well."

Stout said an announcement would be made soon about who would take over the time slot.

Packer, 48, said Monday he plans to continue syndicating his program to 14 other stations in the Carolinas - including outlets in Raleigh, Greensboro and Charleston - and expects to return to the Charlotte airwaves in July when his six-month non-compete clause with CBS Radio expires.

"CBS gave me a great opportunity back in '97, and I'll always be grateful. It was a great run," he said.

"It was the right time to break away and try something new," Packer said. "There's a lot of stuff I want to do and now is the time to do it."

Packer said he plans to continue his "Southern Fried Football" appearances and "Packman on Sports" commentary weeknights on the WJZY (Channel 46) 10 p.m. newscast. He said he is thinking about expanding his TV presence.

Packer, son of sports announcer Billy Packer and one of the best-recognized figures in local sports broadcasting, was known for landing key guests on his shows. He joined WFNZ-AM when it adopted a sports-talk format in 1997, originally paired with Sandy Penner in a midday show.