Production house explains why it ditched morning show presenter

TV production house DeeMedia.tv yesterday filed a judicial protest against presenter John Bundy claiming he used its intellectual property to benefit competitors.

Mr Bundy, until recently presented DeeMedia.tv's breakfast show Bonġu on PBS but was asked not to show up for recordings because, Mr Bundy had said, he had applied to host another morning programme.

DeeMedia said Mr Bundy was contracted to present its programme until the end of June but had breached contractual obligations. His services were suspended until he clarified his position, which he never did.

The controversy started on March 30 after he had turned up for the daily recording but was asked to leave the studio.

Mr Bundy had said he had previously informed the production company he would not extend his contract beyond summer so he did not feel he had done anything wrong by seeking another show.

However, in yesterday's protest, the company said the presenter had tried to register the Bonġu logo and trademark back in September after having signed his contract of service which clearly laid down that the trademark and logo belonged to DeeMedia.tv.

Upon being found out, Mr Bundy had to withdraw his application.

He had attended meetings with the DeeMedia production team in connection with its application for the next Bonġu PBS schedule and had even taken part in a demo tape that clearly showed Mr Bundy saying he would be the presenter yet again and that it would be a continuation of the breakfast show.

DeeMedia said it was informed about this clear conflict of interest by Mr Bundy by the PBS editorial board when it applied to produce the show for another year, discovering that another production house had also named Mr Bundy as its presenter.

This was considered unacceptable to the company as he had a clear conflict of interest and had acted unethically and in bad faith.

It held Mr Bundy responsible for damages.