The new owners of 7 Tasmania have firmly rejected claims that the channel might stop airing free broadcasts of major sporting events, such as the AFL and cricket, under their ownership.
Australian Digital Holdings (ADH), owned by 25-year-old Sydney entrepreneur Jack Bulfin, recently secured a $6.35 million deal to acquire Southern Cross Austereo’s remaining television assets.
The sale includes 7 Tasmania and rural stations in South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland and the Northern Territory.
Speculation arose following a Tuesday report in the Australian Financial Review suggesting the acquisition could ‘threaten’ AFL and cricket coverage.
Anonymous sources claimed Seven West Media’s contractual obligations to broadcast these sports ‘all over the country’ might be compromised if ADH and Seven West failed to reach an affiliation agreement.
ADH director Jason Morrison said the reported rumours were simply not true. “We have no idea where this is coming from,” he told Pulse.
“All discussions with Seven have been very positive and we see absolutely no strength to these reports at all.”
“7 Tasmania will be the home of footy and the home of cricket and that’s not going to change.”
Morrison also highlighted 7 Tasmania’s commitment to comprehensive coverage of the new Tasmania Devils AFL team from 2028.
“It’s a huge responsibility and we already in our planning … have intention to step up our coverage of local footy to make sure that the home team is appropriately honoured,” he said.
“Seven knows that and Seven’s excited about it and the AFL would be excited about it as well. I just think these reports are just being drummed up … probably by commercial rivals in other parts of the country, really nothing to do with Tasmania.”
A Seven West spokesperson said they are confident a new affiliation agreement will be reached. “There have been preliminary conversations between Seven and ADH,” they said.
The current affiliation arrangement reportedly requires Southern Cross Austereo to pay Seven West Media 50% of its television revenue for the right to broadcast Seven programming.
Morrison confirmed that the ADH team, including owner and CEO Jack Bulfin, visited Hobart and Launceston last week to meet with key stakeholders and staff.
“We spent a good deal of time in the Launceston headquarters, talking to staff and getting a feel on what we have to start doing almost immediately,” he said.
“We told everyone our absolute intention is that all staff are coming with us, because why wouldn’t you want them.”
“They’re creating the best television programming that you can have in Tasmania. And so we want to continue to do that and more.”
