KSAS, the Fox-affiliate in Wichita, is suing KWCH, the CBS-affiliate in the same market, over the production of the evening newscast, according to the Wichita Business Journal.
At issue is the 9 p.m. newscast, which KWCH has been producing on KSAS since January 2008. The lawsuit claims that KWCH is no longer producing the show live, which they are contractually obligated to do; instead, KWCH has allegedly been taping the 9 p.m. newscast in advance, in favor of producing a live show in the same timeslot for KSCW, the CW affiliate.
Newport Television LLC, the owner of KSAS, says the delayed newscast is causing irreparable damage to the station’s reputation. “In the news industry, a non-live news program is considered inferior to a live news program because a non-live news program would not, for example, have up-to-date news, sports scores, weather reports, or live field shots,” the court filing states.
While the lawsuit is pending, District Judge Jeff Goering signed an order requiring KWCH to restore the live broadcast on KSAS. The contract in question expires on December 31.