Lawsuit Against Former NWA Sports Anchor Thrown Out
Source: NWA Times Local sports broadcaster Bo Mattingly, who quit his job at KNWA-TV in July, will not have to stop doing his radio show.
That is the bottom line of a ruling Wednesday afternoon by Fourth Circuit Judge Mary Ann Gunn, who denied the station owner’s motion to keep Mattingly from airing “ Sports Talk with Bo Mattingly” via KFAY, an AM radio station that broadcasts in the Fayetteville and Farmington areas, for a year after his quitting the television station on July 9.
Gunn said the plaintiff, Nexstar Broadcasting Group, failed to show that the station would undergo irreparable harm if the injunction was not granted.
Any further issues in the matter should be handled via arbitration, she said.
Nexstar had asked for a preliminary injunction that would bar Mattingly from broadcasting the show. The company argued that he breached his Nexstar contract, which contained a clause keeping him from working on-air in this market for a year after quitting.
posted by ATN @ 9:35 PM
49 comments
49 Comments:
The fact that KFAY was sued was funny. Bo gets the space as part of the syndication agreement with them (reduced rate for free broadcasting space). Glad to know Gunn was the judge for this suit. She's a straight shooter, no punn intended. Hope that Bo and Nexstar can get their issues resolved now.
Sweet!!! I'm moving across town to a real station and getting away from this SH*Thole. Thanks BO!!!
A precedent has now been set my friends. non competes mean nothing!!
Within your specific type of industry they mean something...Bo couldn't have jumped over to Channel 5 or 40/29. But he could do radio...remember, Don Elkins was doing TV and radio at the same time and for a long time. When he was let go from KNWA they didn't sue to keep him off KFAY
Nexstar is run by a bunch of IDIOTS!!!!!!
Hey Perry another lost to a former employee....
Nexstar is like 0fer in this things.
They lost in Champain Il to four fourmer employees. They have lost in Texas and now Arkansas.
Damn Lammers I guess your not as smart as you think you are!!!!!!
I just won't to say I really respect Mrs.Gunn.She seemed like a very orgainized person when she did reports for Channel 5.Way to go to knock KNWA off.Channel 5 and 40/29 will always be the news teams I turn too.One last thing I really like FOX 24 News,because I know the station manager Marty.He is a very down to earth guy and no one ever should put him down.
I'm glad bo is gone from tv. he never was very entertaining anyway.
1:01 PM, October 12, 2007
:I really like FOX 24 News,because I know the station manager Marty.He is a very down to earth guy and no one ever should put him down.
Unfortunately, Marty isn't the station manager at Fox. I mean... that's his TITLE, but he doesn't actually make any decisions. It's just a ruse KNWA uses to mask the FCC-rule bending going on.
The station would be much, much better off if Marty WAS the manager, though.
We Love Marty!
I wish the fox producer would chime in right about now and give us his take about his sister station in NWA.
the two fox stations have nothing to do with one another. it's not like they talk or anything.
It is true. KARK and KNWA haven't been hurt by the departure of Mattingly. In fact, I can watch them now and do regularly.
i've started watching them again now that bo is gone.
we are all ears fox producer
Glad the ruling came down and Bo does not have to stop his radio. Was a "David vs Goliath," thing. Nexstar got what it deserved. Whether you like Bo or not, others are out there who deserve fair treatment (present/future).
Thank you Judge Gunn.
I don't watch 24 or 51 anyway, as they are worth my time..............
Name a person that got run out the door at KARK or KNWA that shouldn't have been.
What were they suppose to do just let him walk? The truth is they saved his career. He was washed up and couldn't get a job when they gave him another chance.
Non-compete clauses are baloney anyway.
Good news for Bo Nuttingly.
"Anonymous said... Name a person that got run out the door at KARK or KNWA that shouldn't have been."
how about Mike Nail, Deana Day, Rick Katzfey....just to start...
there are plenty of great people that they let go. but honestly, bo was never any good anyway. i'm glad he left there, it's watchable again.
One of those wanted to leave and get out of the biz and the other two needed to leave and would not have been on any other station in this market.
Bo "mommy will I grow any taller" Mattingly has been adopted by Houston Nutt.
That was a called text! I called that text!
"One of those wanted to leave and get out of the biz and the other two needed to leave and would not have been on any other station in this market."
...that's bs--none of those "wanted to get out of the biz," and Nexstar treated those people who had many years of experience like crap.
That's a compliment that they would not have been on another station in this market, considering that this market looks like three college stations, and that the people in question have both been in larger markets than this.
"Anonymous said...considering that this market looks like three college stations"
You get what you pay for. If they are going to pay college wages, they are going to get college students. The bottom line is everything and until the market increases it's bottom line and hires professionals with experience (not kids off the street) the quality of the market isn't going to improve.
Kids off the street? You guys are ridiculous. With the exception of KNWA/FOX, every talent bio in the market touts a college degree, some of which from impressive universities. Many of them have experience with internships in bigger markets, and working with college TV stations. That's pretty much all it takes to get a job in a market this size.
It's still highly competitive to work in this market, anyone in management here would tell you how many hundreds of tapes come in for each on-air opening. It is market 102, but it's not the bottom of the barrel. There's plenty of up and coming talent here. Most of them are not ready for a top 50 market, but they're damn good when comparing to other markets this size.
This market is up to par with markets 85-110, like it should be. And it's a lot better than some 80s and 90s market stuff I've seen.
"This market is up to par with markets 85-110, like it should be. And it's a lot better than some 80s and 90s market stuff I've seen."
After reading that last post, I tried so hard NOT to respond. I don't like to be negative...but it's killing me. Are you SERIOUS??
I'm hoping you haven't seen many markets if you think the FT. Smith/FAY market is a lot better than 80's and 90's markets. I have seen a lot of markets (a whole lot of markets) and I really hate to say I think this is the worst or really close anyway..that I have seen. Long overdue changes are starting to happen which is a good sign--40/29's new studio and set looks good--if they could get the LIGHTING right--and why in the world would they not soundproof that studio? The audio sounds hollow-- it reminds me of the way KNWA did things with their make-over--it looked new and shiny--but underneath it wasn't done correctly or professionally. "Viewers won't notice, and it's a lot cheaper to do it this way...."
As far as talent, these stations hire far below what they could. I guess it's the money thing--but you don't have to hire someone right out of college (or even before they are out of college) in market 102.
I usually watch 40/29 because of the talent. Donna, Leslee and Craig are very watchable and could be found in larger markets. I also can watch Lericos. Weather dude, morning gal, weekend gal...not so much.
I find it painful to try to watch Ch. 5. Garrett is a bright spot and the blonde Ashley that gets written about on this board. I simply don't understand the others being on the air in this market.
Even though I like Matt on KNWA, I just can't get through their newscast. For me, most of the others are unwatchable.
All three stations are guilty of terrible writing, misspelled lower-thirds and graphics (nightly)and so many technical mistakes it's laughable. Producing is very weak--news judgement non-existent.
Seems that the stations seem to produce their newscasts in similar ways--maybe a product of former employees crossing over to other stations.
To try to say something positive-- it does appear that the stations are beginning the effort to keep up with the growth and sophistication that has become Northwest Arkansas. (and I say that comparatively, if you look at NW Arkansas ten years ago...) They are just so far behind..and should have led the way....
I usually watch 40/29 because of the talent. Donna, Leslee and Craig are very watchable and could be found in larger markets. I also can watch Lericos. Weather dude, morning gal, weekend gal...not so much.
I find it painful to try to watch Ch. 5. Garrett is a bright spot and the blonde Ashley that gets written about on this board. I simply don't understand the others being on the air in this market.
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I find 40/29 unwatchable, 5 is slightly above that if thats saying anything. Craig and Leslee watchable? what the? Donna I can't watch the news the same after that text scandal. Jennifer Haile don't have a good opinion because I don't watch her a lot but she seemed alright the times I did watch. Tiffany Stewart is the only reason I watch 40/29 on the weekends she is the best overall anchor they got, she reads well and looks nice I can't watch that Jerrad Broyles guy he seems like a fake nice guy. I prefer 5's weather > 40's as far as who is guessin' it or telling it, I think Garrett being a local native only helps. I like 40's sports Lericos and Burleson have been real nice the times I have communicated with them. I think Lericos misses some jokes but he means good. I am a Mike Irwin guy and enjoy his Razorback coverage that why I watch when something happens with the Hogs too bad to took him off the radio. Enjoy Ashley Ketz while you can she is got a bright future. I say there are some decent reporters at each station I like Melissa Kelly, Frank Wiley, and Sara Lasure. I could go on and on here but I have taken enough space.
Frank Wiley a good reporter??? He is unwatchable. His stories sound like he translates every other word with a thesaurus, and there are sometimes standups in there that just don't make sense. Ick.
matt barcaro is unwatchable. i saw his report last night. he stuttered his way through it like usual. perhaps one day he will be able to report without stuttering and stammering. or maybe he is worthless as a reporter, which is the way it seems. i heard his personality off camera is horrible too. i met his once and he seemed like an idiot who thinks he is all that is good.
what about that tara campbell? i think she is cute and does a good job. i think she is the best at kfsm better than sara lasure character. you mention matt barcaro struggling to get through a story you should watch the marianly mendez chick my goodness. mary marsh i think her name is very hard to watch report a story.
matt barcaro is hard to watch. he can't seem to keep a train of thought going. anyone see him on youtube with the national cemetery story? hilarious stuff.
I don't understand all the hoopla over Sara Lasure. She talks out of the side of her mouth and her writing stinks! Didn't both Ashleys start working there AFTER her, but got their promotions FIRST? Yeah, great reporter.
KNWA has the best anchors, KHOG has some good reporters, and channel 5 is just unwatchable. I only watch for Garrett Lewis. Everything else on 5 is just garbage.
I can't believe anyone takes their sports department seriously. I know Irwin knows his stuff, but D*MN! This is television. And after a huge Razorback game, Goins barely mentioned it and did some SEC wrap up that sounded like a template pulled from a national feed. Sad.
What do you expect from Market 102.
The only huge Razorback games these days are huge losses. They beat the last place team in the SEC to become the next to last palce team in the SEC. So what?
have you seen the two ashleys? they can get anything they want.
You don't understand the "hoopla"? I believe she won some sort of reporter of the year. I guess I am the only one that likes her.
Awards mean nothing when you've been in a market you hate for how many years now?
The good ones leave.
Funny how those of you who complain so loudly about Sara are also the ones who think she should leave.
She's a great reporter and a capable anchor. She'll leave when she's ready.
Oh, and awards only mean nothing if you didn't win.
We just don't understand why she wants to work for a station who fails to promote her after she supposedly won all these awards.
She's got nothing to show for it because she obviously can't find a better job, and obviously management sees she's just not good enough to move onto the anchor desk.
I looked at 5's site, she isn't on it but the other anchor/reporters bios seem to be why? I found her myspace before.
I don't know, but it seems like she's treated like a bottom of the barrell reporter. With no bio online and few opportunities to anchor, viewers SEE it.
I'm sure 5 appreciates the web hits.
I know this is a strange concept for some of you "star wannabe" reporters, but has it ever crossed your mind that there are reporters out there who don't want to be anchors?
Being a reporter used to be a noble profession and still should be, but too many of you are focused on being "stars" instead of being real journalists.
The thing Lasure has going for her, that so few of you seem to understand, is that she is a real journalist.
real journalists inside the state of arkansas? really? well anyway i thought this story was about bo nuttingly. this is how i see it, the anchors are for the most part mediocre (like arkansas' football) in this market (except for ashley ketz) anyway just look at 5 and 40 for examples. shoooooo weeeee! as far as anchoring goes i thought this sara did a better job at sports than adria. carry on minions.
Sara may have done a better job, but like everything else, she gets pushed to the side.
She will always be a step-child at Channel 5. If only she was a good enough "journalist" to get out of crappy market 102. Obviously not.
An award in ARKANSAS is only to make the station happy. That's all. It clearly hasn't helped Sara's career.
Carry on, children.
Why doesn't someone get smart and hire her? She is a very talented beautiful young lady.
Sara please stop talking about yourself on this blog. We got the point. You think you are a good reporter and you are good looking. However, no one else seems to see it. I am truly sorry
Does anyone know if this Sara chick is available? I would love to go on a date with her (or just hang out with her as friends).
BTW, if I was a GM or an ND, I would hire her in a new york minute.
Well its seems someone maybe reading this thing, Sara was anchoring the news she did a good job and looked great as she alway does. Go Sara I hope you get to anchor the weekend more.
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