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WIN TV’s Bruce Gordon suing TVSN

WIN argues it had a deal with shopping channel to meet and explore extensions before end of broadcast deal, but TVSN negotiated with Seven behind its back.

WIN TV mogul Bruce Gordon is suing TVSN, after the shopping channel signed a new broadcasting deal with Seven network.

The Australian Financial Review reports a case was lodged with the NSW Supreme Court last month over an alleged breach of contract.

In mid-2021, WIN signed a three-year licensing deal with TVSN, owned by CPE Capital-backed Direct Group, to broadcast the channel, according to court documents.

Court documents reveal the contract between WIN and TVSN included a clause that the two companies would meet nine months before the end of their deal on June 30, 2024, “with a view to exploring, in good faith, opportunities to extend their co-operation”.

But WIN alleges that TVSN deliberately ignored attempts to organise a meeting because it was negotiating a new deal with a rival broadcaster behind its back.

In December TVSN’s lawyers Holding Redlich sent WIN a letter saying there was “no point in having a meeting” because it would be “impossible for your client to provide the Australian-wide coverage required by our client”.

In January TVSN announced a new broadcast deal with the Seven Network, which took effect in July.

WIN is seeking damages and says it lost the ability to negotiate a new deal because TVSN declined to engage.

A TVSN spokeswoman said it did not comment on matters before court. WIN declined to comment.