The retired TV legend and company founder, 81, is expected to testify about the history of Dick Clark Productions' relationship with the HFPA and the intent of the 1993 contract to produce the Globes.
Chris Haston/NBCU Photo Bank via AP ImagesThe dispute over TV rights to the Golden Globes continues in federal court next Tuesday, when two sides — the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and Dick Clark Productions — will present their cases before a judge.
Little more than a week following the star-studded Globes ceremony, the Los Angeles trial — postponed since September — involves a power struggle of sorts for control over the telecast. On one side, DCP claims it has the right to produce the Globes so long as the event remains on NBC in the U.S. (In 2010, DCP forged a contract to keep the show on the network through 2018.)
But on the other side, HFPA — miffed about DCP’s pact with NBC — says no contract can go into effect without its approval. The organization wants to put the rights to the telecast up for auction to the highest bidder.
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Last August, THR reported a list of possible trial witnesses, including Dick Clark, who hasn’t made many public appearances since his 2004 stroke, CBS Corp president and CEO Les Moonves and NBCU TV president of west coast business operations Marc Graboff, who helped broker the DCP deal.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Clark, 83, continues as one of the bold-faced names expected to take the stand, along with Moonves, Graboff, HFPA Chairman Philip Berk and DCP CEO Mark Shapiro.
Clark most recently appeared to help ring in 2012 on his top-rated Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve special, which was hosted by Ryan Seacrest and broadcast on ABC.
