WB Sues Ovitz TV Firm Over Show

In the first legal battle to emerge since Michael Ovitz pulled the plug on his television production company in August, the WB television network has sued Artists Television Group for failing to live up to its contract to deliver a fall program, “Lost in the U.S.A.”

In the lawsuit, filed Friday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, the WB claims it advanced ATG more than $1 million in two payments in late July and early August to help offset production costs for the show.

The lawsuit said ATG promised to deliver the series even after news reports in mid-August that the company planned to shut down. In late August, when ATG told the WB it was ceasing operations, the network had to race to find a replacement program.