Kevin Adell, the owner of Detroit-area TV station WADL, sent a cease and desist letter to rival local station WMYD and parent E.W. Scripps demanding it kill its plans to start carrying The CW Network next week.WA
The fate of where The CW heads to in Detroit is up in the air thanks to an ongoing dispute between Adell and CW Network owner Nexstar. WADL was supposed to be the new home of The CW after it left longtime home WKBD-TV in September, but last month, Adell removed the programming from the channel because of a disagreement with how much Nexstar should pay his station.
Complicating things is the fact that Adell’s station is in the process of being purchased by Mission Broadcasting, which is also run by Nexstar. But the Federal Communications Commission has yet to weigh in on the deal, which prompted Adell to seek new terms to carry The CW while it awaits approval.
Instead, Nexstar jumped ship and signed a new agreement to put The CW on E.W. Scripps’ WMYD-TV, also known as TV20. In response, Adell accused Scripps of breaking the law.
“Agreeing to carry The CW implies an improper purpose and constitutes tortious interference under well-established Michigan law,” said Donovan Asmar, an attorney for Adell. “Your conduct also exposes you to claims for civil conspiracy as it appears that you and The CW are engaging in a plan to interfere with and harm WADL’s business relationship with Mission.”
The CW is in a middle of a reboot after Nexstar took full control of the network. Gone are the raft of teen dramas and superhero shows spawned from DC’s Arrow. In its place are shows like FBoy Island and Penn & Teller: Fool Us, as well as ACC football and basketball games and LIV Golf. Next October, it will begin carrying WWE NXT.
Spokesmen for Scripps and Nexstar weren’t immediately available for comment.