Freeman speaks. (Outtakes).

Susan Freeman, who two weeks ago resigned suddenly after about seven years as president and general manager of KTHV-TV, Channel 11, told Outtakes last week that she was not forced out of her post, despite widespread rumors.

Word floating around the market was that on Freeman's watch, some of KTHV's financial records had been found to be inaccurate or that money had been stolen. Freeman denied those rumors.

"I think that got started because we had [station owner] Gannett come in and do an audit, which is extremely common," she said. "And I guess that's how somebody got that started. But, oh no, there hasn't been anything falsely reported, or anybody stolen any money or anything like that whatsoever."

Freeman also said that no one at Gannett pressured her or asked her to resign. She said her reason for leaving the CBS affiliate, which has the market's No. 2 newscast, was exactly what she said it was: her desire to spend time with her daughter and perhaps start a new business.

Until her marriage this year, Freeman had spent several years as a single mother. With her daughter now in her senior year of high school, Freeman said she wanted to spend more time with her before she left for college.

Freeman said she thinks new KTHV president and station manager Larry Audas will do a good job. She said the station has assembled a good news team and shouldn't falter in the ratings during the management change.

As for the business, Freeman's said she's not sure what specific venture lies ahead. With more than 20 years in television and 10 in advertising and marketing, she said there's much she could do.

"So I just don't know at this time. Probably something very different, maybe. And then it may not be," she said, laughing. "But I just want to take a different direction and get out of the corporate world."