Ex-Tennis Australia chief tells court he feared ‘hijack’ in big tennis TV deal
Former Tennis Australia chief Steven Wood has told Melbourne’s Federal Court he feared director Harold Mitchell was “hijacking” a big broadcast rights deal when he “interjected” to promote an offer from Seven West Media.
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Former Tennis Australia chief Steven Wood has outlined how he feared director Harold Mitchell was “hijacking” a big broadcast rights deal and says he warned his chairman Mr Mitchell’s “strong involvement” was a problem.
Mr Wood told Melbourne’s Federal Court that, at an important board meeting in December 2012, Mr Mitchell “interjected” to promote an offer from Seven.
“It was unacceptable to Tennis Australia even though Harold wanted to do it,” Mr Wood told the court of the Seven offer at that time.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has launched civil action against former TA director Mr Mitchell and the organisation’s former president Steve Healy, saying they improperly helped Seven West Media win the broadcast rights by not revealing competing bids, including from Network Ten.
But Mr Healy’s lawyer, Neil Young, QC, pointed out Mr Wood himself had doubts about the competing offers and chose not to detail them to the board when the chance came.
Asked why he never told the board at the December 3 meeting Ten and Nine had indicated interest, Mr Wood said: “I thought it was up to Harold to do that.”
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Mr Wood acknowledged he had “reservations” about the prices being put by the rival networks and the fact they could be “posturing” to drive up the cost for Seven.
The court heard in late 2012, Mr Wood complained to then TA chair, Mr Healy, that he was “concerned” with “Harold’s strong involvement” in pushing Seven as a partner.
But the court heard he did not go into great detail. “I think I used the word hijacking,” he said.
Mr Wood agreed with Mr Young that he never accused Mr Mitchell of bullying.