SYDNEY, Oct 7: Cricket Australia�s broadcast partner Seven West Media has sought official arbitration in its bid to secure a cut in its annual fees, reportedly dissatisfied with the planned schedule for the eagerly-awaited year-end Test tour by India.
�Seven� has lodged paperwork with the Australian Chamber for International and Commercial Arbitration (ACICA), a report in the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper said.
The report also said that CA �could call the network�s bluff and head directly to court�.
The network has sought an independent expert to determine the rights value of this summer�s schedule, including a four-match Test series against India and the Big Bash League.
The report said the network�s claims included CA�s decision to �change of dates for the matches, with only one Test before Christmas and the final Test finishing in mid January when many people are back at work.�
The schedule of the series, set to begin in December, is not yet officially out at this point.
�As it stands, that figure is 75 million dollars in cash plus 7 million dollars in free advertising but Seven argues the campaign ahead, impacted by COVID-19 restrictions and the alleged scheduling demands by the Board of Control for Cricket in India, will lack the quality it had signed on for,� the report said.
An ESPNCricinfo report earlier stated that the �Boxing Day� Test will start from the traditional date of December 26 in Melbourne, following the pink-ball game at the Adelaide Oval from December 17. � PTI
