WISH TV: 11 quit or are fired over non competes

[newsman123 142]

Breaking from the Indy Star:

 

…At least 11 employees with Circle City Broadcasting, the parent company of WISH-TV, either quit or were fired Sept. 3 after they decided not to sign a new contract addendum with an expanded non-compete clause…

 

How on earth does this hold up in court? I understand current non competes are still valid.. but firing someone for not changing the language in their current contract? Thats breach on the station’s part, no? And retaliation. 

 

Edited September 5, 2025 by newsman123

[GodfreyGR 812]

Some insight on Reddit.

 

 

[newsman123 142]

36 minutes ago, GodfreyGR said:

Some insight on Reddit.

 

 

 

 

[l_miro 245]

 

the new law only covers healthcare workers it seems

 

But... On 9/4/2025 a judge found former WISH meteorologist Ashley Elliott's non compete unenforceable because it's too broad. https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/news/judge-blocks-enforcement-of-former-wish-tv-meteorologists-non-compete-clause/ar-AA1LZ0Ai

 

maybe WISH were anticipating losing the lawsuit, the updated non-competes they wanted everyone to sign barred employees from working in any form of media for 1 year after leaving WISH. They could've ran their contracts out, or modified during the out windows and offered more to pay more to have them stay exclusive, and less if they want to be at will. 

 

Edited September 5, 2025 by l_miro

[nathannah 2792]

So thankful I have Apple News (Gannett really needs to make one subscription universal across all papers digitally);

[MediaZone4K 2664]

TV station management is disgusting.

 

If stations are getting rid of long-term anchors and paying talent less because they "no longer  move the needle", why do stations care if ex  talent goes to other local media?

 

It can't be protection of intellectual property because digital writers and photojournalists typically aren't under contract.

 

It's control and jealousy.

Edited September 6, 2025 by MediaZone4K

[mre29 1967]

3 hours ago, l_miro said:

 

the new law only covers healthcare workers it seems

 

But... On 9/4/2025 a judge found former WISH meteorologist Ashley Elliott's non compete unenforceable because it's too broad. https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/news/judge-blocks-enforcement-of-former-wish-tv-meteorologists-non-compete-clause/ar-AA1LZ0Ai

 

maybe WISH were anticipating losing the lawsuit, the updated non-competes they wanted everyone to sign barred employees from working in any form of media for 1 year after leaving WISH.

 

 

Anywhere in the country or just Indiana?

 

[l_miro 245]

9 minutes ago, mre29 said:

 

Anywhere in the country or just Indiana?

 

 

the change in law Circle City mentions is Indiana only, allegedly only for healthcare workers. 

 

 

[mre29 1967]

5 minutes ago, l_miro said:

the change in law Circle City mentions is Indiana only, allegedly only for healthcare workers. 

 

I meant the new non-competes Circle City is pushing.

 

[tyrannical bastard 4678]

This station sounds like the Temu version of Allen Media...or Bayou City Broadcasting to be exact (since DuJuan McCoy sold Bayou City to Allen Media)

Sad that it was once LIN's flagship.  

But it goes to show you that every now and then, a too-big company is better than a crappy station owner who is wiling to let good employees walk just to screw them over if they go against them.

[Megatron81 343]

I smell lawsuit for Circle City from those that got fired as they should I'd get a lawyer and take Circle City to the cleaners. I feel that Circle City will be sold in my opinion.

[mre29 1967]

3 hours ago, Megatron81 said:

I smell lawsuit for Circle City from those that got fired as they should I'd get a lawyer and take Circle City to the cleaners. I feel that Circle City will be sold in my opinion.

 

Or at least its stations will.

 

[ColtFromGulfcoast 869]

Circle City is the only owner, other than Allen, that I can think of that's perhaps even worse than Sinclair. 

 

[EVVTV12 204]

The IndyStar has used the WayBack Machine to see who is and isn’t at the station anymore. To have one or two people leave is nothing. But when 14 people either quit or are fired, it will raise red flags. 

[NowBergen 924]

Sadly, the protections that were put in place regarding non compete clauses, was reversed in the last couple of weeks.  It could impact the ability to litigate this (though hopefully they do since this is extreme).

[l_miro 245]

35 minutes ago, NowBergen said:

Sadly, the protections that were put in place regarding non compete clauses, was reversed in the last couple of weeks.  It could impact the ability to litigate this (though hopefully they do since this is extreme).

 

Had to look up what changed. No protections were put in place and then reversed, it was reinterpretation of statutes more than likely.

 

- Obama FTC: changed the agency's enforcement to only take action on non-competes if there's some (I think undefined) broad consumer harm. And on sr employees making at least $151K I think.

 

- Biden FTC: went the other way, reinterpreting enforcement ability into a broad nationwide ban-all. One side argued FTC exceeded it's statutory authority -- a federal agency can't usurp congressional lawmaking power, and congress can't pass it's lawmaking power off and let someone else deal with an issue. This went into pending appeal.

 

- Trump2 FTC: just recently withdrew its appeals saying Biden-era FTC rule reinterpretation overrode state laws.

 

Yeah but... then turned around and went after 'Gateway Pet Memorial Services' because they had 1 year long, nationwide, non-competes for all employees with language the feds didn't like - even for drivers of deceased animals. Feds also said they're now pursuing a "steady stream" of non-compete cases using antitrust laws instead.

 

Trump2 FTC forced GPMS to null and void all non-competes from 2019 onward, notify employees individually their contracts are null and void, post a big notice to new employees that GPMS are not allowed to use non-competes for 10 years, except with "director, officer, or senior employees" and some other definitions to tie their hands.

 

This is probably what WISH/Circle City was referring to as "change in the law". A change in FTC enforcement interpretation more like it. Could be an excuse, could be really the advice their counsel gave them, we haven't seen the language so can only speculate. The way I've seen these things worded though, more than likely Circle City/WISH and the employee have unilateral right to quit if the contract is amended due to change in law.

 

And this is how you see 14 people gone.

 

My best guess based on the above: Ashley Elliott sued Circle/WISH-TV, judge declared the contract overly broad. Great timing right when Tump2 FTC, both, drops appeal and goes after GPMS for ... overly board non-competes ... Circle City/WISH-TV had an oh shit moment, and didn't want to get lobbed with an antitrust review by the FTC that will end up similar to GPMS hwere only CC/WISH-TV execs and senior producers have non-competes but on-air talent will be free to go wherever they want in town.