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Diredor of Athletics
University of Arkansas • Broyles Athletic Center • Phone 479-575-2755 • Fax 479-575-4904 May 3, 2007
Dele Nicholson
KATV, Inc.
PO Box 77
Utile Rock, AR 72203
Dear Dale: fts we begin preparations for the 2007 football season, it is time to finalize the play-by-play
position with Razorback Football. We have discussed this as a staff..ovsr-t-Ae-~-seve~ra""r=------ _ _ _ _ _ _-weeks-aflEHt-is-ot:rn:tesin:ffor CAuck Sarrett to be our football play-by-play announcer. Chuck has been with the Razorback Family since 1991 as our baseball play-by-play announcer and is regarded as one of the best play-by-play announcers in the Southeastern Conference. In addition, he has hosted the Razorback Football Network Pre-Game Show and served as producer of the Razorback Football broadcasts since 1995. Additionally, Chuck has been a consistent on-air contributor as the "third" man in the booth for football broadcasts the last 2 years. In our opinion, Chuck would be the best long-term choice for the position, not only for his professionalism and ability, but also having been in the football broadcast booth for so many years. We feel Chuck Barrett brings a deep knowledge and connection to the Razorbacks as an announcer and as a sports personality. We also feel Chuck's ability to interact on a daily basis with the University, its athletic programs and their coaching staffs allows him to be an integral part of the Razorback program for many years to come. Dale, please let me know if you have any questions or need to visit regarding this matter. Sincerely,
}:!!n::!es Director of Athletics JFBjdhr
P.O. Box 7777 • Fayetteville, Arkansas 72702
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Bob Holt, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Dale Nicholson May 10, 2007
Bob, from the short list of candidates for the next play-by-play announcer for the University of Arkansas football radio broadcasts, I passionately believe the best choice is Scott Inman) and here's why: an Arkansas native and lifelong Razorback fan, Scott grew up in Stuttgart listening to Paul Eells. Paul inspired Scott to go into broadcasting, he joined KATV in 1999 as our weekend sports anchor, and withina short time, we moved him to a news anchor position because he was so well liked and respected throughout Arkansas,
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broadcasts doing the halftime and post-game shows since the 1999 season, After the tragic death of Paul Eells, Scott did some of the Razorback: basketball play-by-play and the station was covered up with complimentary calls from listeners. We sent an ~_~ .....".., audition CD to Coach Broyles and his staff and everyone was impressed with Scott's knowledge, as well as his wonderful broadcast voice. The Arkansas Razorback Sports Network, a subsidiary ofKATV, and the University of A rkansas have bad a great worlring partnership since 1994, and while we have. always sought to reach a consensus with the University on talent for the radio and television games, our contractual agreement clearly states that the final. decision belongs to KATV. While Mike Nail did an admirable job last fall when no one else could, if given the opportunity I believe your readers would agree that Scott Inman is the best choice to be the Razorback football play-by-play announcer beginning this fall and for the future. If the public' disagrees with me, I hope they will express their choice to you, to the University, and to KATV.
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Page 10f1
Donita Ritchie From:
Susie Wiggins [
[email protected]]
Sent:
Friday, May 11, 2007 2:36 PM
To:
[email protected] Subject: Phone Call
Good afternoon, Donita - I'm sorry, but Dale is away today on corporate business and not available. He will be back Monday and I will give him the message then.
~autuU!~ Senior.Assistant to the President/Director ofAdministration KATV/ ABC, Little Rock, AR P.O. Box 77 Little Rock,AR 72203 501-324-7806
[email protected] WW1JI.kotv. com
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May 31,2007 Dale Nicholson, Gen. Mgr. KA1V Channel 7 PO Box 77 Little Rock, AR 72203
via facsimile and Federal Express
Dear Dale: As a follow up to your letter of May 25, 2007, I share your view that the University of Arkansas and KA1V have enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship. I understand the desire of KA1V to move forward in a direction which is in its best interests. Unfortunately, I do not believe KA1V's proposal is in the best interest of the University of Arkansas or the Razorback football program.
In your letter, you express your desire for the University to be "on board" with KA1V'sselection of Mr. Scott Inman as the play-by-play announcer. Specifically, you state: "While our contract gives us the right to select, I really want you to be on board. We hope we can include your statement of support as we announce his selection." As recognized in your letter of May 10, 2007, however, the selection of the play-by-playannouncer under the license agreement is "subject to the approval of the University." I am very disappointed and surprised that KA1V would now assert, for the first time, that it has the "right" to select and to publicize a new play-by-play announcer in disregard of the University's right of approval and its best interests. In light of the University's previous disapproval of Mr. Inman for this position, I believe that KA1V's unilateral selection and announcement of Mr. Inman would be a breach of contract and a breach of the fiduciary duties owed to the University under the license agreement. In our previous communications, I provided the reasonable grounds upon which the University disapproved KA1V's proposal. Although I respect Mr. Inman, I do not believe he is the appropriate individual to perform the play-by-play duties as I previously expressed in our telephone calion May 22, 2007. As the main news anchor for KA1V, Mr. Inman's responsibilities in Little Rock would prevent him from having the level of day-to-day contact necessary to prepare SUfficiently for the broadcasts. Further, Mr. Inman is a newscaster - not a sportscaster - for KA1V. I recognize KA1V's apparent desire to have its main news anchor gain statewide exposure as the Razorback play-by-play announcer, but I do not believe that is a reasonable basis for selecting the person for this position. Instead, I believe that the decision should be based on the best interests of the fans, the network and the Razorback football program. You are correct in noting my desire to have a play-by-playannouncer who is familiar to Arkansans. In particular, I believe that it would be highly beneficial to have someone who has been recognized and associated with the Razorback sports program for the past several years. I do not believe that the main news anchor for KA1V possesses that qualification. I appreciate your informing me of the completion of your research study, and I am open to reviewing it if you will share a copy with me. KA1V's broadcast area, however, does not extend to the northwest corner of the State of Arkansas, and I do not believe that Mr. Inman is widely known in this area. Moreover, I do not believe that Mr. Inman is regarded as a sports personality or sports expert even in central Arkansas.
As expressed during our telephone conversation last week, the football play-by-play announcer has traditionally served as the host of the football coach's TV show for decades. The network's Northwest Arkansas affiliate
has informed the University that, if the main news anchor for KATV is selected, it would not broadcast the coach's show. Since the broadcast options for the Houston Nutt Show in Northwest Arkansas are limited, the University would experience a financial hardship. Further, the University believes that the Razorback program is best served by having the same voice serve as the play-by-play announcer and the television host for the coach's show as has been the case for many years. Combining these functions serves to strengthen the identity of the network and fan support for the Razorback program.
As you note in your letter, the University, acting in good faith, requested that Mr. Inman fill-in as the play-by-play announcer for six Razorback basketball games to provide an opportunity to give thoughtful consideration for naming him to the position. This was appropriate, in part, because Mr. Inman has no prior experience broadcasting Razorback sporting events. I acknowledge your belief that "Razorback fans loved" Mr. Inman, but I have not seen any objective data or reports which support your view. The University certainly considered Mr. Inman's performance in broadcasting those games, but that is not the sole reason for granting or withholding approval of Mr. Inman as the play-by-play announcer. During these basketball broadcasts, Mr. Inman was restricted from reading on-air sponsor messages. According to ARSN representatives this restriction was necessary due to KATV's policy prohibiting its news anchors from performing implied endorsements of advertisers. Mr. Inman's responsibilities as KATV's news anchor, therefore, conflicted with the best interests ofthe University's network and its advertisers to maximize revenues. Similar conflict-of-interest issues might arise in the future if Mr. Inman were to serve as play-by-play announcer. With regard to the Arkansas-Louisiana Monroe football game, Mr. Inman did not serve as the on-air play-by-play announcer for the ARSN broadcast. Instead, he performed a "dry run" for the benefit of KATV to provide information and examples of his work to the University. No Razorback fan heard Mr. Inman's broadcast, and he has not previously worked in the broadcast booth for football. I am uncertain, therefore, about your reference to the "overwhelmingly positive" support for this broadcast. This letter will reaffirm the University's disapproval of KATV's desire to select its news anchor as the play-by play announcer, as expressed to you in our previous communications. I believe it is imperative for the University and KATV to move forward in the selection process as expeditiously as possible. To achieve this objective in a mutually satisfactory manner, I recommend that we conduct an in-person meeting as soon as possible. The University of Arkansas appreciates the long time, mutually beneficial relationship we have enjoyed with KATV, but we must make the best decision for our football program. While KATV is the current operator of the network, ultimately it is the University's network, which is why we hold the final approval of any talent. Sincerely,
Frank Broyles Director of Athletics
Cc: Alan Sugg