The non-compete could be a non-issue if they were working without a contract. i.e. if their contract had a 3 mo or 6 mo non-compete, but they'e effectively been sans contract for that long, CBS has no legal standing to stop them from immediately going to work at another station.
In other words, if they had a 6 mo non-compete, but they've been working without a contract since January, any clause that says 'you agree not to go to work on-air for another station in this market for 6 mo's after end date of this contract' would no longer apply. The 6 months from the end of the contract would be Jan-June.
Again, this all depends on CBS letting them lapse from contract employees to at-will employees. But if they were having issues- either with contract details ( them wanting more $$$ than CBS wanted to pay) or ratings (not having them) CBS may not have renewed their contract, they may not BE under contract, so no non-compete...
In other words, if they had a 6 mo non-compete, but they've been working without a contract since January, any clause that says 'you agree not to go to work on-air for another station in this market for 6 mo's after end date of this contract' would no longer apply. The 6 months from the end of the contract would be Jan-June.
Again, this all depends on CBS letting them lapse from contract employees to at-will employees. But if they were having issues- either with contract details ( them wanting more $$$ than CBS wanted to pay) or ratings (not having them) CBS may not have renewed their contract, they may not BE under contract, so no non-compete...