“10 gets the dregs”: Mitchell denies ASIC allegations

Former Chairman of Free TV Australia Harold Mitchell is denying allegations he made repeated and unauthorised contact with Seven lawyer Bruce McWilliam during negotiations for the 2013 Australian Open broadcast rights.

In a statement of claims filed in the Federal Court by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission late last month Mitchell, previously a Tennis Australia board member, is alleged to have passed on confidential information to Seven from board meetings.

According to a Sydney Morning Herald report, Mitchell allegedly told Steve Wood, then chief executive of Tennis Australia, “that the long-standing arrangement of media rights in Australia was that Nine has the cricket, Seven has the tennis and football and TEN gets the dregs.”

ASIC alleges information was never conveyed to the Tennis Australia board despite Mitchell and former Tennis Australia director, senior Dentons lawyer Stephen Healy knowing about the seriousness of TEN’s interest.

Mitchell allegedly told McWilliam “it is all going to plan”.

A spokesman for Mitchell said he “categorically denies all the allegations in the statement of claim including the quote in regards to TEN getting the dregs”.

“The allegations centre on hearsay and will be disproven in court at the earliest opportunity,” he said.

Mitchell stepped down from his role at Free TV Australia following allegations made public in November.