Atlanta-based Bounce TV filed a lawsuit Wednesday against Bobbcat Films for breach of contract over a TV show Bobbcat offered to the network featuring Tamela and David Mann, stars of the 2009-2012 TBS series "Meet the Browns."
According to the lawsuit filed in the Fulton County Superior Court, Roger Bobb's company last December pitched to Bounce TV a sitcom starring the Manns called "Mann & Wife."
Bounce TV, which launched in 2011, targets African American audiences and is available without the need for a cable or satellite subscription. In May, it drew 130,000 black adult viewers, behind only rival BET, according to Nielsen Research data.
The two parties came up with a plan to air 10 episodes to air in 2015. In February, the two sides agreed to a deal that was confirmed in an email from Bobbcat to Bounce Feb. 7. Bounce, according to the lawsuit, began selling advertising for "Mann & Wife." Bobbcat provided Bounce with images and logos from the show, as well as a video preview. A press release came out May 5 announcing the partnership.
"In good faith reliance on the February agreement," Bounce wrote in the lawsuit, "Bounce not only invested significant time and money to the Marketing Campaign, but it also passed up other attractive projects."
The February agreement was confirmed in a "Production Services Agreement" that Bobbcat signed off on May 12, the lawsuit said.
But eight days later on May 20, Bobb called Bounce President Ryan Glover and told him they were going to do a reality show featuring the Manns on BET instead, the lawsuit alleges.
A BET spokeswoman said the network has committed to an eight-episode run of a reality show called "Meet the Manns." A premiere date has not been set yet.
Bounce TV declined to comment. Bobbcat's Bobb, who used to be Tyler Perry's right-hand man until he left to start his own production company in 2011, did not respond to a text message inquiry and voicemail.
UPDATE: Monday, June 22, 2014: Bobb sent me this email.
The Bounce situation will be resolved amicably very soon. I have nothing but admiration and respect for all parties involved. Meanwhile, I'm in Trinidad wrapping up my newest film Grown Girls Getaway (see pic) with Garcelle Beauvais, Essence Atkins, Malinda Williams & Terri J. Vaughn and looking forward to producing more episodes of the very successful TV One sitcom The Rickey Smiley Show. We have already shot 37 episodes in just two years right here in Atlanta.
After Bounce demanded Bobbcat live up to its contractual obligations, Bobbcat responded on May 30 that the agreements were not enforceable and since then "has maintained the same intractable position," the lawsuit stated.
Bounce is accusing Bobbcat, which also produces "The Rickey Smiley Show" on TV One, of breach of contract and tortious interference with business relations by damaging "Bounce's reputation and goodwill in the industry."
Bounce is requesting a trial by jury and wants Bobbcat to stop doing business with BET "unless and until Bobbcat fully performs its obligations to Bounce with respect to the Show." It would like damages determined at trial as well as punitive damages.
The network airs a lot of old films starring African Americans. Tonight, for instance, it's scheduled to air "John Q" starring Denzel Washington and "White Nights" starring Gregory Hines.
It also has a limited slate of original programming such as a situational comedy "Family Time," set to air a second season this fall, and a stand-up comedy show "Off the Chain" hosted by Rodney Perry, which returns for a third season this fall.
Bounce's initial founding members include former Atlanta mayor Andrew Young and Martin Luther King III, plus the co-founders of production company Rainforest Films Rob Hardy and Will Packer ("Ride Along," "Think Like a Man," "Stomp the Yard')
According to Bounce, the network is seen in 88 markets, including all of the top African-American television markets; 89 percent of African-American television homes and 72 percent of the total television homes in the United States.
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