Report: Seven may get $5m discount from Cricket Australia
Possible $5m discount would fall well short of a $70m Seven is hoping for.
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under News
After months of haggling over rights, the tussle between Seven and Cricket Australia appears to be nearing an outcome.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports an independent arbitrator found Seven is entitled to only a $5m discount to its rights fee this season -well short of the $70 million reduction it sought in its annual $82 million cash and contra deal.
That figure will rise to $8.3 million if the Test against Afghanistan, initially scheduled for this season but postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, is not played next summer.
A final determination is due to be delivered next week by Venture Consulting chief executive Justin Jameson, the man agreed by the warring parties to provide an independent ruling.
The draft determination figure stands to be a massive win for CA, which had offered its free-to-air TV partner a 20 per cent discount for this summer, which amounted to about $15 million, split over what had been the four seasons remaining on the term. This was rejected by Seven.
The two parties are also in a fight at the Federal Court, resuming on March 15. The network has said it is prepared to walk away if it does not get its way either through mediation and / or through the Federal Court.
3 Responses
Should have taken the CA offer what’s the saying “A bird in the hand is better than a bird in the bush”?
Will this ever end ,trying to right the wrongs of the former CEO who sold the ODIs and T20 to Foxtel for money ,add to the fact a drawn out BBL with no big names means when the contract expires it’ll be up for grabs again by 9 and 10 and of course Foxtel.
Would have to wonder if 10 would bother now, they seem to build these sports up only for another network to swoop in and take them once they’ve grown the audience, Big Bash, Saturday night AFL etc.