★★★★★ 0/5

Seven files court action to end $450m Cricket contract

Stoush over the quality of cricket broadcasts is heading back to court, with Seven now wanting out of its current deal.

0
Leave a comment

Seven has filed court proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia against Cricket Australia, in a bid to terminate its $450 million TV rights deal, citing repeated breaches of its six-year media rights contract.

The Daily Telegraph reports the grievances largely centre on the Big Bash League rather than Test Cricket.

“Seven West Media Limited through its subsidiary Seven Network Limited has filed court proceedings in the Federal Court of Australia against Cricket Australia in relation to multiple quality and standard breaches by CA of Seven’s Media Rights Agreement with CA,” said a Seven statement.

“The SWM (Seven West Media) proceedings will seek both: A court declaration that Seven is entitled to terminate the MRA (media rights agreement) on the basis of material contract breaches by CA which were not remedied. And damages arising out of past breaches.”

Both parties have previously been to court, including around the COVID-impacted 2020 – 21 season.

Last August the Federal Court directed Cricket Australia to deliver agreed documents to Seven as part of its preliminary discovery action.

At the time Cricket Australia said, “The 2020-21 season will be remembered for the spirit of cooperation, overcoming challenges and a sensational summer of cricket. We are extremely proud of how the Australian Cricket family and its partners worked together to make the season so special.”

Current court action is unlikely to impact on the upcoming summer given the time it may take for the proceedings to be heard.

The Australian reports the legal action doesn’t mean the network is looking to sever its ties with the sport long-term and may still consider bidding for rights beyond 2024.

Cricket Australia said it was “astonished Seven has brought this unwarranted action, which will be strenuously defended.” The governing body said it was “enormously proud of the efforts of the Australian Cricket family” who had worked to hold cricket matches during the past two summers “in unprecedented circumstances”.

Updated.