In April of this year, CBS claimed that ComStar Media, who acquired FamilyNet Television in 2009, failed to pay licensing fees beginning in 2010.  FamilyNet Television broadcast shows targeted at families and sitcoms including My Three Sons, Family Ties and Happy Days.  CBS owned many of the shows, and said in their complaint that licensing payments stopped coming in 2010.

In 2009, a licensing agreement remained in place for the specified television shows; ComStar also acquired AmericanLife Television Network, and touted that the library of sitcoms, including Happy Days and My Three Sons, owned by CBS, would be available to some 50 million households.  When payments stopped in 2010, ComStar resisted payments according to the complaint.  In fact, ComStar claimed in the original lawsuit that when they acquired the assets of FamilyNet, they did not acquire the liabilities corresponding to the assets, and therefore were under no obligation to make license payments to CBS, who alleged $1.5 million in damages in the complaint.

ComStar is owned by Robert Schuller, “Hour of Power” minister and GodTube founder Chris Wyatt.  Originally, FamilyNet and CBS had come to an agreement in December of 2008 regarding licensing the television shows; when ComStar acquired FamilyNet, license payments stopped soon after.

While CBS and ComStar came to an agreement on Friday October 19th, the financial terms of the settlement were not revealed to the public.  Chairman of Family Net Management Robert A. Schuller stated, “I am pleased that we have been able to reach an amicable resolution to this matter.  We look forward to the opportunity to do business with CBS in the future.”

At the Law Offices of Spotora & Associates, our Los Angeles entertainment attorneys are skilled in many aspects of entertainment law, including licensing agreements, film, movie, and television contracts, royalty and management agreements and other business matters.  We offer a hands-on approach and take a personal interest in reaching positive results for every client we represent.