Channel 7, the Australian broadcaster that is going to telecast the Test series between India and Australia starting on December 17 in Adelaide, has filed an affidavit with the Melbourne Court as it alleged that Cricket Australia had breached the contract by making changes to India’s summer schedule to cater to the needs of the BCCI. Channel 7 has also blasted Cricket Australia, saying that it is scared of the BCCI and it has sought an email communication between Cricket Australia and BCCI over the scheduling changes. The main conflict between Channel 7 and Cricket Australia can be traced a couple of months back.
Channel 7 had initially wanted Cricket Australia to begin with the four-Test series and then the limited overs series but the Board chose to play the ODIs and T20Is first. Channel 7 is also miffed with the fact that Foxtel, which has exclusive rights for the ODIs and T20Is, is also sharing the Test broadcasting with Channel 7. Channel 7 is a free-to-air channel while Foxtel is a pay channel.
Speaking in the Sydney Morning Herald, Seven West Media Chief executive James Wharburton said Channel 7 is seeking access to email communication between Cricket Australia and BCCI. “It's a shame that the cricket administration have kept their head in the sand. They really don't value us as a broadcaster, preferring to outperform to the BCCI, who they are terrified of,” Wharburton said.
Seven West Media are also miffed that there will not be much of international stars in the Big Bash League due to the coronavirus situation in the country and also because of travel restrictions. Seven West Media has a six-year broadcast deal worth USD 1.19 billion and reports in the Australian media have said that they will not make the initial payment of AUD 25 million.
With Foxtel and Channel 7 sharing the feed for the Tests, there is also a lack of stars in the Indian team after Adelaide. The Pink Ball Test on December 17 will see the Indian cricket team play a Day-Night Test for the first time overseas and it will also be the only Test that Virat Kohli will play in Australia as he heads back home for the birth of his first child.
With no Virat Kohli for the remaining Tests and with other major stars like Rohit Sharma also injured, Channel 7 is also miffed with this. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the international matches in Australia might not be having Free-to-Air services for live cricket for the first time and the fact that it will be on the lines of a paid subscription has made Seven West Media very unhappy.