The depth of Seven West Media’s disappointment with Cricket Australia’s game schedule has been revealed in documents filed in the Federal Court.
Foxtel is very pleased with the results from the cricket. The Australia vs India Game Two was the most-watched One Day International ever on subscription television with an audience of 585,000.
But the scheduling doesn’t work for Seven, with the postponement of a one-day West Indies series, a one-day New Zealand series and a test with Afghanistan.
In an affidavit lodged in the Federal Court, Lewis Martin, Seven Melbourne managing director and head of sport, says: "This is ridiculous. This is not the season we have been planning for."
In September, Seven West Media paid Cricket Australia only what it thought was "fair value" for rights to a season the broadcaster believes is sub standard.
The media group had been due to send $25 million, the first of three part payments for the right to broadcast cricket, but decided it wasn't getting what it had agreed to.
Seven also sent Cricket Australia a breach of contract notice, the first step in terminating its broadcast deal.
Nick Hockley, Cricket Australia interim CEO, says it’s disappointing Seven West Media has again chosen to use the media to talk down cricket.
“We remain confident in our contractual position,” he says in a statement.
“CA has maintained all along our commitment to delivering a thrilling summer of cricket and on behalf of all involved, be that governments, partners, players and staff, I’m proud to say we are doing just that.
“We continue to have tremendous respect for the hardworking people across Channel 7’s cricket and news broadcast teams and congratulate them on the substantial increase in ratings cricket has delivered them to date this season.
“We have, and will continue to, fulfil our obligations to our partners and supporters by scheduling a brilliant summer of cricket, despite the cost and complexity of doing so given the current public health situation.”
Seven West and Fox Sports, majority owned by News Corp, have a six-year, $1.18 billion broadcast rights deal, which started in 2018.
Seven is paying $450 million ($75m a year) for tests, 43 Big Bash League matches and women's internationals and BBL.
The broadcaster has won significant reductions in broadcast rights fees from the AFL after the pandemic cut into the playing season.
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