U.S. radio show host Big Boy is facing a lawsuit from bosses at his former station Emmis Communications after quitting for a lucrative deal with rivals iHeartMedia.

The Dj, real name Kurt Alexander, is said to have breached his contract and is now being chased for $5 million (£3.1 million) by Emmis chiefs, who do not want him to leave for another station.

Emmis bosses claim that contractually they should have been consulted and given the chance to match any offers the star received from rival stations.

Alexander departed for iHeartMedia after producers offered him $3.5 million (£2.2 million) a year, a raise on Emmis' salary of $1.5 million (£910,000), but his former bosses are hoping for a legal ruling to prevent the move.

Bosses at Emmis have released a statement saying, "Emmis first discovered Alexander, 45, working as a body guard more than 20 years ago, and has invested substantially over the years in helping him develop into the star that he is today. Despite acknowledging Emmis' matching offer Alexander turned his back on his radio home of more than 20 years and plans to move to a Los Angeles-area radio station operated by iHeartMedia, which would immediately launch a new format as a director competitor to Emmis."

Emmis Chairman, President And Ceo Jeff Smulyan said, "Big Boy has been a beloved member of the Emmis family for more than two decades, and we are particularly dismayed by his breach after we agreed to meet the iHeart terms. I am personally saddened by his actions and the impact they will have on our brand and our people."