WTTG-TV (Channel 5) isn’t giving up star anchor Tracey Neale without a fight.
The Fox affiliate submitted a proposal late Monday to match Ms. Neale’s recent job offer from CBS affiliate WUSA-TV (Channel 9).
WUSA offered Ms. Neale an anchor job Dec. 18, the day her contract with WTTG ended. That triggered a legal process that gave WTTG 10 business days to match or better WUSA’s salary.
Ms. Neale’s WTTG contract paid her between $250,000 and $300,000 annually, according to knowledgeable sources.
Unresolved legal matters have prevented Ms. Neale’s move, according to people close to the situation.
If she does not join WUSA, it is not clear whether she would return to WTTG, where she has been off the air since Dec. 9.
Ms. Neale’s agent, Lou Oppenheim, would say only that “things are still in flux.”
The popular Ms. Neale has won two Emmy awards for anchoring. WUSA wants her to become Gordon Peterson’s co-anchor, a seat Gurvir Dhindsa has held since fall 2000.
Ms. Dhindsa’s contract expires in July, roughly the same time Ms. Neale would be legally permitted to appear on WUSA’s airwaves.
Representatives for the stations declined comment or could not be reached.
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