CHAPTER EIGHT:
MAJOR BROADCAST NETWORKS FIGHT FOR DAVE!
Michael Ovitz, Dave's
new Agent, suggested that Dave should "shop his show
around to the entire television industry. He was positive
that Dave was very valuable to the entertainment
industry. He knew that a lot of Networks would love to
employ David Letterman.
To accomplish this, Ovitz would have to free Dave from
his NBC contract. THERE WAS ONLY ONE SMALL CATCH! NBC had
the right to match offers for up to 17 months after Dave
decided to shop elsewhere.
The approach that Mike took was of utter brilliance. He
told other Networks to start making offers and to start
wining and dining Dave! Mike, needless to say, was not
pleased with the contract problems.
Mike Ovitz set up a meeting - in which the "Networks
Fight For Dave"- would take place. CBS and ABC heard
about the meetings over the grapevine". They tried
to jump the gun and called Dave with offers before the
meeting took place.
NBC started to hear about the offers through the same
"grapevine". NOW NBC WAS ALERT AND READY TO
FIGHT FOR DAVE AS WELL!
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