National Public Radio personality Tavis Smiley will leave his popular show in mid-December, the New York Post reported Tuesday.

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The host of "Tavis Smiley" is the first African-American to have his own show on NPR.

While the program was popular, the New York Post said, "NPR apparently didn't do enough to grow Smiley's show through a comprehensive advertising/marketing campaign." In a memo to station managers, Smiley said, "NPR's own research has confirmed that NPR has simply failed to meaningfully reach out to a broad spectrum of Americans who would benefit from public radio."

Smiley, who plans to sign off December 16, said he is grateful for the three-year opportunity "to bring a broader range of viewpoints on life in America to the public airwaves."

He will continue to produce and host his late night television show on PBS