Channel 7 ‘desperate’ to get out of broadcasting cricket

As Channel 7’s spat with Cricket Australia reaches explosive new areas, it’s been claimed the network is trying to backflip on its deal.

The summer of cricket was turned on its head.

Relations between Channel 7 and Cricket Australia couldn’t be worse and veteran sports journalist Robert Craddock believes the network is agitating to escape its contractual agreement to broadcast the sport.

Seven and CA have been at war since COVID-19 broke out, just two years after agreeing to a $450 million deal that saw the broadcaster pinch the free-to-air TV rights from Channel 9.

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Seven this week launched action in the Federal Court requesting access to emails and other communication between CA and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), believing CA altered its summer schedule because of India’s wishes.

Seven has criticised the quality of this summer’s upcoming Big Bash League and also taken exception to international scheduling changes, which CA says have been forced by complications caused by the global pandemic.

Craddock says the investment in cricket hasn’t paid off for Seven, and the network is now “desperate” to get out of its contract, having already asked Channel 10 to buy the rights to the BBL.

“It’s the relationship that matters, and there barely is one between Channel 7 and Cricket Australia,” Craddock told Sportsday. “They’ve got to run cricket together, allegedly for the next four years.

“It’s been a bad deal from the start, it hasn’t really fitted, they (Seven) are desperate to get out of it.

“They’ve already rung Channel 10 to ask them to buy the Big Bash off them — that’s a categorical fact.

“They’re in bail out mode. This is trouble.

“It’s trouble because there is no one to bail out cricket. Channel 10 don’t have a coin, Channel 9 have invested heavily in the rugby and happily parted with cricket. They have tennis in the new year.

“It’s worrying signs for cricket, no doubt about that.”

Seven has accused CA of kowtowing to India’s wishes, claiming scheduling changes were the result of bowing to demands from the BCCI rather than because of the pandemic.

A Test against Afghanistan was postponed and the one-day and T20 series against India which were originally scheduled for after a four-match Test series were brought forward to the start of the summer.

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Channel 7 isn’t happy.

Seven has the rights to broadcast Tests, not limited overs fixtures, meaning the three ODIs against India have only been available to viewers with access to pay TV network Foxtel or subscriptions to sports streaming service Kayo.

Seven has also complained about a block of 10 BBL matches being played in Tasmania, in addition to voicing concerns about the lack of star power and availability of Australian players for the domestic T20 competition.

The network attacked Hobart’s Blundstone Arena and Launceston’s UTas Stadium, saying it was “commercially irrational” to broadcast games from either venue, and also suggested matches were only being played in the state because of an incentive provided to CA by the Tasmanian government.

Cricket Tasmania chairman Andrew Gaggin slammed Seven’s claims.

“The Trump-like allegations concerning the Tasmanian state government are patently absurd and untrue,” he said on Wednesday

“The Tasmanian government has certainly provided an incentive. Its proactive and responsible COVID-19 policies have ensured that Tasmania is one of the world’s safest places and the perfect location to host the start of the Big Bash.

“However, let it be clear that no financial incentive was provided by the Tasmanian government to Cricket Australia for BBL matches to be played in Tasmania.

“Cricket Tasmania is an equal owner of Australian cricket and will continue to push for world-class content to be played in this state.”

Seven CEO James Warburton has previously called CA “the most incompetent administration I’ve ever worked with”, while the governing body has regularly defended its position, confident it will deliver on its contractual obligations and provide the content promised to its broadcast partners.