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Producers in court battle over The Checkout

Exclusive: Giant Dwarf & CJZ are locked in a dispute over former ABC consumer affairs show.

EXCLUSIVE: A dispute between producers of The Checkout, Giant Dwarf-owned The Checkout Pty. Ltd. and Cordell Jigsaw Zapruder, has landed in the NSW Supreme Court.

Both produced the consumer show for 6 seasons for ABC, but parties were in court earlier this month following a major fallout.

The dispute follows CJZ transferring a 50% share of a Checkout joint venture company to Giant Dwarf. Producer and presenter Julian Morrow is now sole director of Giant Dwarf.

While parties are locked in a feud over company documents, future royalties, full disclosure and consumer law (!), separately there are also doubts about whether ABC is interested in a return.

This week Morrow surprisingly took to social media this week disclosing communications with ABC as part of a campaign to see The Checkout return, and released a video through Facebook.

 

CJZ said in a statement to TV Tonight, “We are bewildered by the recent activity about The Checkout on social media. The ABC has made it clear that it will not commission The Checkout while there is a dispute between CJZ and Giant Dwarf about the show.

“CJZ has tried very hard to resolve the dispute but have been unable to do so. Julian has now chosen to commence legal proceedings and we will be defending that action.”

It noted, “We are very proud of The Checkout and are saddened if this dispute has delayed the return of the show to TV.”

Julian Morrow declined to comment.

ABC appears to have been caught in the producer crossfire, but a spokesperson indicated the broadcaster was looking at a new consumer affairs show rather than a return to The Checkout.

In response to The Checkout tweet an ABC spokesman said in a statement: “As the ABC has said previously, we are looking to develop a consumer affairs program that offers something new to our audiences, showcasing fresh ideas and diverse Australian talent.

“We have not commenced development of any program and discussions with other parties are preliminary only. While we don’t comment on such confidential negotiations, the claims to which you refer are misleading.”

Sources rejected the notion of an ABC “ban” on Checkout personnel. Kirsten Drysdale & Zoe Norton Lodge are due to feature in Reputation Rehab and Craig Reucassel has Fight for Planet A: The Climate Challenge, plus Big Weather and how to survive it.

The case returns to court on December 6.

Updated.