Kansas State University Athletics
K-State Reaches Agreement With WIBW
Aug 30, 2002 | Football
Aug. 30, 2002
MANHATTAN, Kan. - Director of Athletics Tim Weiser and University President Dr. Jon Wefald announced Friday that Morris Communications has agreed to pay KSU $1,500,000 for KSU's five hours of shared broadcast time. Morris Communications releases all broadcasting rights in connection with KSU Football and WIBW will cease broadcast of KSU football games immediately. All litigation between Morris Communications and KSU, including the trademark lawsuit, is to be dismissed. The settlement is contingent upon FCC approval. The transfer of the five hours from KKSU to WIBW takes place upon the expiration of a transition period of 90 days.
Dr. Marc Johnson, Dean of the College of Agriculture, is pleased with the settlement and confident that KKSU will be able to put together a first-class broadcast network which will be able to provide significant agricultural coverage and agricultural programs to farmers, ranchers and rural people throughout the State of Kansas.
Dean Johnson said, "The College of Agriculture is pleased with the settlement and this will ultimately allow us to do an even better job of providing timely agricultural information to our clientele all over the State of Kansas.Work to form the broadcast network for KKSU's programming has already begun."
Larry Jackson, KKSU Station Manager commented, "KKSU-AM has enjoyed a long, successful history of providing valuable and informative radio programming to the people of Kansas. No doubt some people will be sad that KKSU will soon leave the air, but they can rest assured that we will be working both through radio stations around the state and through new media technologies to provide to Kansas citizens the important practical, research-based information they've long enjoyed from KKSU."
Athletics Director Tim Weiser is very pleased with the settlement between Kansas State University and Morris Communications because it allows the athletic department to grant exclusive broadcast rights to the Mid America Ag Network.
"This is very good news for K-State, the entire athletic department and for all of our supporters of K-State football and basketball teams all over the state and region," Weiser said. "News of the settlement comes at a great time as we prepare to open the 2002 Wildcat football season this coming Saturday. We greatly appreciate our fans' understanding of what has been a confusing situation. As both WIBW and K-State Athletics have indicated, this has been a business matter and I wish WIBW nothing but the very best and appreciate the professional manner in which they have conducted themselves during this difficult period."
President Jon Wefald said, "I am very pleased with the settlement between Kansas State University and Morris Communications. The negotiations between the two parties were very complex, but this settlement represents at win-win for the Kansas State University department of athletics, the College of Agriculture, KKSU and its many listeners, and for Morris Communications, WIBW and its many listeners. This is what we have been seeking all the way along and we are pleased that we could reach this mutual accord."