Sportscaster Sal Marchiano Files Age Discrimination Suit Against Former WPIX General Manager

Longtime sportscaster Sal Marchiano filed a multimillion-dollar age discrimination lawsuit against the former head of WPIX/Channel 11.

Marchiano, who left WPIX in December 2008 when the station decided not to re-sign him, is seeking unspecified damages. The Daily News reports that the figure could hit $10 million.

When Marchiano, 69, originally exited station officials called it a retirement, although the sportscaster said otherwise.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in the Southern District of New York, names Betty Ellen Berlamino, the former general manager of Tribune-owned Channel 11. The station itself was not named.

The article says Marchiano’s legal proceedings took place in large part because of former news director Karen Scott filing her own suit in June. In it, Scott maintains that she was pushed out due to age discrimination.

Scott, according to the Daily News, alleges that the station, led by Berlamino, demoted Marvin Scott and tried to force out Kaity Tong. (This week, WPIX reassigned anchors Tong and Jim Watkins in favor of Jodi Applegate.)

He just ‘doesn’t look good on the air,’ Berlamino allegedly said of Marchiano, according to Scott’s suit.

FishbowlNY attempted to reach Berlamino. Messages were not returned.

Channel 11 had no comment.

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