WFAN's Mike Francesa Alleges CBS Threatened Suit If He Talked About TV Simulcast Problems

Francesa

MIKE FRANCESA told listeners to his CBS RADIO Sports WFAN-A-F/NEW YORK show that he has been told in a letter from CBS to stop talking about his troubles with his TV simulcast on FOX SPORTS 1 and FOX SPORTS 2 or face a lawsuit.

NEWSDAY's NEIL BEST reports that FRANCESA said on his TUESDAY show that he received a letter from CBS when he returned from vacation on SEPTEMBER 2nd with the threat of a lawsuit.  CBS' response through spokesperson KAREN MATEO was to say, "There has been no discussion of any kind in regards to a lawsuit."

FRANCESA responded to the statement by insisting, "I was told not to say anything and I was handed a letter which in three different places says it will hold you liable and responsible for all the money in the agreement. That's a threat ... So, semantics. Tell the truth. I was given it and I can produce it, so cease with the nonsense that I wasn't given it. That's just not factually correct and what you tried to say was very misleading in the statement.  There was a letter handed to me which basically said, cease, otherwise you will be responsible for all the money if the deal blows up and that is what is known in the trade as a way of threatening your talent. If they're saying I didn't receive a letter, that's a lie. I did.  If they're saying there were no discussions between myself and certain people, there were, and if they say the letter in some ways does not say they will take action then they haven't read it, and I can produce it."

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