ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, February 10, 1996 TAG: 9602120006
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: LISA APPLEGATE STAFF WRITER
Ten months after he was hired for a new "adult hot contemporary" format, the morning personality for Majic 105 (WVVV) has been fired.
Dean Tyler, who co-hosted the morning program and served as program director, was laid off last month.
Now, he's seeking a lawyer to help win his release from a noncompetition agreement so he can work in the area again.
The New River Media Group, who bought Majic-105 two years ago, asked Tyler to sign a noncompetition agreement when it hired him. The agreement states that if he leaves the station, Tyler can't work for another radio station within 60 miles of the New River Valley for six months.
This isn't the first time New River Media has faced such a contract challenge from a local radio personality.
Three years ago, former WPSK-FM disc jockey Collins Knighton challenged his noncompetition agreement with the company, but the station won in a ruling by the Virginia Supreme Court.
Tyler said this week that he did sign the agreement. "But when you come here, you think everything's going to be fine."
Tyler, who is engaged to be married, said he wants to stay - and work - in the area. He wants New River Media either to pay him for the six months he can't work or to allow him to find another job in radio.
Tyler said he managed to get out of a noncompetition agreement twice before when he worked in Florida.
"I just went to the judge, showed him my resume and it was obvious I couldn't do anything besides radio. I've been in this business since I was 17. What am I supposed to do, deliver pizzas?"
Tyler said he left on good terms with the management at New River Media.
Since the company bought the radio station, the format has changed three times; from rock'n'roll to hard rock to the current adult contemporary music beamed in from Dallas-based ABC radio.
General Manager Dave Roderer was not in the office Friday, and Mike Gummer, sales manager, said the company did not want to comment.
In the case three years ago, Knighton was fired from the country music station WPSK-FM and then found a job at WRIQ in Fairlawn. New River Media sued Knighton for $25,000 in damages, and Knighton countersued for $75,000.
The lawsuit made it all the way to the Virginia Supreme Court, where it ruled in favor of the contract and of New River Media.
LENGTH: Short : 49 linesby CNB