An independent arbitrator has ruled that Cricket Australia should provide the Seven Network a discount of $5.3 million, the broadcaster says.
Seven West Media has announced an expert from the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (ACICA) has made a call on its stoush with CA.
In a statement, Seven West said the expert found that CA should deduct $5.3m from the next instalment of the broadcast rights fee, while a further $3m should be deducted if Australia’s rescheduled one-off Test against Afghanistan does not take place in 2021-22.
But the heated scrap between CA and its free-to-air broadcaster is set to continue on Monday in front of Federal Court Justice Paul Anastassiou. The hearing is scheduled for 10:15am (AEDT) in Melbourne on Monday.
Seven have made a series of public objections about the rejigged Big Bash League and Test schedule.
Seven released a statement late on Friday, soon after receiving the final ACICA determination.
“Seven West Media has to date reserved and continues to reserve all rights concerning the expert not having met fundamental contractual conditions of independence,” it said.
“Seven West Media’s preliminary discovery action in the Federal Court relating to what it believes may be actionable Test Match and BBL quality failures by Cricket Australia is set down for 15 March.”
Seven chief executive James Warburton memorably described CA as a “train wreck” last August, threatening to terminate the broadcaster’s $450 million contract with the governing body.
badmanners
Roar Rookie
I expect they will continue but they were threatening to walk away.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
I think Ch7's broadcast rights still have this coming Ashes to run?
badmanners
Roar Rookie
Yep, the price will have dropped considerably but it is an Ashes year.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
I'm sure they may. But not at any cost. And I don't think the last few years have done anything but drive down the market price.
RAdelaide
Roar Rookie
Agreed. International ODIs & T20s aren't being shown on free to air and I almost think test matches might be next. I hope I am wrong, but this deal has helped phase out cricket from free to air TV in Australia.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
"Spokeswonk".... ha ha
badmanners
Roar Rookie
Nine have stated they would take the cricket back anytime.
Peter
Roar Rookie
I don't think poisoned relationships will mean much when the broadcasters think about the next contract. Ultimately if they think they can make money from showing the cricket they'll try and get it.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
It would appear no one can unravel the double speak as the reporter didn't explain it! At least the 'spokeswonk' said Test cricket and BBL and not 'the product offering'! Small mercy.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Yeah interesting point Jeff. Say those two don’t want to get involved next ‘broadcast round’, 10, abc and sbs don’t have the most money. C.A. could end up with a tiny or no offer from them (maybe a tiny offer from 7 and nine cause of past), so C.A. has to take a low offer, a shared by multiple channels offer, a pay tv channel picks it up (for a bargain). That could be a very different viewing future for the Aust public.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
It comes under "Contractual Obligations". Something Neil Young and Monty Python successfully thumbed their noses at.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I consulted the "Book of Armaments", Chapter 5, and even that couldn't explode the dense matter within that statement.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Thanks Micko. It’s always much better to work things out as mates.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
These FTAs are such dinosaurs. The issue around pay-per-view is another discussion obviously, but at least the likes of Fox Sports act in a contemporary way by focusing on a particular sport - e.g. cricket of AFL - and delivering content specifically targeted to that sport, rather than trying to be a jack of all trades. People have moved on from the approach of just taking what they are given. It's very much a consumer-driven era nowadays.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
If only Seven had the tennis.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Brad Hodge is currently commentating on motorsport for 7. :silly:
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
That and the fishing.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Yep. Moving forward, CA has a poisoned relationship with both Seven and Nine. Not a good position for CA to be in, in the years to come.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Seriously? Todd Woodbridge has been a cricket commentator on Seven? These “personality” focused commercial networks, with their pursuit of attempted “cross-pollination” of “media” figures and unrelated programming promotion, have no idea as to how to cradle and grow a product under their control.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Todd Woodbridge