Two stations in Wichita have reached an agreement over the production of the 9 p.m. newscast, prompting Fox-affiliate KSAS to drop a pending lawsuit against CBS-affiliate KWCH.

KWCH is under contract to produce a live 9 p.m. nightly newscast on KSAS. The lawsuit claims that KWCH has been recently devoting their resources to a live broadcast in that timeslot on KSCW, the market CW-affiliate, and has been producing a taped broadcast on KSAS.

In the terms of the agreement, KWCH will produce a live 9 p.m. newscast on KSAS through December 31, which is the date the contract between the two stations expires. “We take pride in our reputation for fulfilling our agreements and believe we were operating within the letter of the agreement,” Joan Barrett, president and general manager of KWCH parent company Sunflower Broadcasting, told the Wichita Business Journal. “We also respect the fact that our partners may have seen it differently.” Read more

KSCW, a CW-affiliate in Wichita, is set to launch 4:00 and 9:00 p.m. newscasts in September. The 30-minute programs will be produced by sister station KWCH and feature the CBS-affiliate’s anchors Cindy Klose (at 4:00) and Roger Cornish (at 9:00).

“With such well-respected journalists such as Roger and Cindy, it seems a natural fit to extend their roles and our news in the afternoon and evenings on KSCW,” said Joan Barrett, president and general manager of Sunflower Broadcasting.

KWCH is the flagship station of Sunflower Broadcasting, which is owned by Schurz Communications. Sunflower runs stations throughout Kansas, including KSCW.

Klose currently anchors KWCH’s 5, 6, and 10 p.m. weekday newscasts. Cornish, who has been a fixture at KWCH’s anchor desk for over three decades, appears alongside Klose at 6 and 10. KWCH currently produces a two-hour weekday morning newscast on KSCW.