CBS Corp says it has fired Leslie Moonves for cause and has denied a $US120 million ($A167 million) severance package as it girds for a potential legal battle with its former chief executive, who has been accused of sexual harassment and assault.
The decision to deprive Moonves of his severance follows a board of directors review of the findings of an investigation into Moonves' behavior and the CBS culture conducted by two law firms, Debevoise & Plimpton and Covington & Burling, which were hired by US TV network.
"We have determined that there are grounds to terminate for cause, including his wilful and material misfeasance, violation of company policies and breach of his employment contract, as well as his wilful failure to co-operate fully with the company's investigation," CBS's board of directors said in a statement.
A draft report of the investigation was leaked to the New York Times this month. It accused Moonves of destroying evidence and seeking to mollify accusers with promises of jobs at CBS.
The report also included more accusations that Moonves advanced the careers of women who had sex with him and more accusers beyond the 12 disclosed in two New Yorker investigations that led to Moonves' forced resignation on September 9.
Moonves has denied any wrongdoing and has described his sexual encounters as consensual.
"Mr Moonves vehemently denies any non-consensual sexual relations and cooperated extensively and fully with investigators," Moonves' lawyer Andrew Levander said, adding the conclusions of the CBS board were "foreordained and are without merit".
It was not immediately clear if Moonves planned to take legal action against CBS.
The CBS board also said investigators found harassment and retaliation were not pervasive at CBS but found its policies and practices failed to prevent past incidents.
CBS suspended Charlie Rose, co-anchor of CBS's morning show and 60 Minutes in November 2017 after several women accused him of harassment and misconduct and fired him last September.
Jeff Fager, 60 Minutes' executive producer, was also fired in September after threatening a CBS News reporter investigating allegations of harassment of colleagues.
Investigators found the company failed to hold "high performers" accountable for their conduct, the board said.
It said it has retained outside advisers to fix its human resources problems.
Australian Associated Press
