Nexstar Files Lawsuit Over Mattingly Show (opinion)

Nexstar Broadcasting Group Inc. on Aug. 3 filed a lawsuit against former sports director Bo Mattingly and the Fayetteville radio station that is home to the broadcaster’s new drive time sports talk show.

Nexstar owns both KNWA-TV, Channel 51, in Fayetteville and KARK-TV, Channel 4, in Little Rock, two markets where Mattingly’s television sports reports previously aired. The television group said Mattingly violated a noncompete clause agreement in his original contract by signing with KFAY-AM, 1030, after turning in a letter of resignation to KNWA on July 9. Mattingly’s contract with Nexstar was to run through June 2008, and his radio show, “Sports Talk with Bo Mattingly,” began airing July 30.

Regarding Mattingly’s contract, the complaint states: “It is further agreed that upon the expiration or earlier termination of this agreement for any reason whatsoever, the employee will not, for a period of one year thereafter accept new employment involving the rendering of any on-air services … .”

Nexstar claims that Mattingly did not inform them at the time of his resignation that he intended to do a radio show. Along with the complaint, Nexstar also filed a preliminary injunction to get Mattingly off the airwaves.

“I’m going to do my job and let my attorneys do theirs,” Mattingly said after learning of the suit. “For me it’s going to be business as usual.”

Joe Conway, general manager at KFAY, said Mattingly is not an employee of Cumulus, therefore the station should not be involved.