Cricket Australia 'astonished' as Seven file court case to terminate TV deal

The sudden development by broadcaster 'Seven' to undertake federal proceedings against Cricket Australia (CA) has left the home board 'astonished' and 'extremely disappointed'. 

Seven decided to take CA to federal court in a bid to terminate their six-year deal worth $450 million to cover the Big Bash League and Test cricket, with two years in the clause remaining.

The Australian board's statement reads, "Cricket Australia is extremely disappointed that our broadcast partner, the Seven Network, has commenced legal proceedings against CA in relation to recent COVID-impacted cricket seasons,"

CA delivered two very successful cricket seasons in 2020-21 and 2021-22, including every WBBL and BBL game and highly acclaimed international schedules, despite the enormous challenges presented by the global pandemic,"

"In the circumstances, CA is astonished that Seven has brought this unwarranted action which will be strenuously defended,"

According to a report in The Daily Telegraph, Seven wants to get a legal order from the court to hold the remaining contract null.

Seven West Media Ltd claims that CA have breached the contract under their quality and standard provision, mainly regarding working in the BBL.

"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,"

"Seven previously obtained preliminary discovery proceedings in the federal court relating to the claims. Seven intends to terminate the MRA, conditional on the federal court granting a declaration that Seven is entitled to do so. Seven has the right to waive this condition. The damages action is not conditional,"

"Seven has pursued the informal dispute resolution procedure under the MRA, but the procedure failed to resolve the dispute," Seven stated in their release.

The court case will most likely begin sometime next year and will not have any bearing on the current or upcoming jam-packed Australian cricketing season at home, which includes the ICC T20 World Cup.