Miami Heat begins legal action against Clear Channel Broadcasting

National Basketball Association (NBA) side Miami Heat has started legal action against Clear Channel Broadcasting over claims that the broadcaster is favouring National Football League (NFL) team Miami Dolphins.

The Heat had signed a contract with Clear Channel giving the team a “priority broadcast position” on the company’s Miami radio stations, and claims the broadcaster is in breach of that contract after agreeing a “more favourable” deal with the Dolphins.

The Dolphins’ contract means its games are broadcast on the “extremely powerful station” of WBGG-FM as well as on WINZ-AM, both owned by Clear Channel.

Heat now faces having its next game on 31 October blacked out by Clear Channel as the Dolphins will be playing at the same time.

Clear Channel said it was “not willing to provide the Heat with any of the more beneficial material terms granted to the Dolphins.”