News Corp Australia newspapers revealed images and video of Seven executives James Warburton and Lewis Martin with rugby league administrators late last week.
The meeting came just as Seven launched its latest major sporting coverage. This time for the FIFA Women’s World Cup. An event that delivered Seven’s commercial partners an audience of close to 2m viewers.
Seven’s ‘secret $150m bid to steal State of Origin series from Nine’
There was a flurry of excitement in weekend newspapers with claims of a “secret $150m bid to steal State of Origin series from Nine” after footage emerged of Seven’s head of sport Lewis Martin and Seven’s chief executive James Warburton dining with the chief executive of the NRL Andrew Abdo and the chairman of the ARL Peter V’landys.
Asked about the lunch, Martin told Mediaweek: “We have a great relationship with Peter and Andrew.” He added that it’s not unusual for the four executives to catch up.
Martin didn’t have any comment about any new bid for State of Origin, except for this not-too-cryptic comment: “We retain an interest in other sports if they present an opportunity for us.”
Seven and Women’s World Cup
“This is an international event of extraordinary scale with the same feel around it as both Tokyo [2020 Olympics] and Birmingham [2022 Commonwealth Games],” said Martin. “There’s extra interest too because the Matildas are right in this.”
Martin noted because of the Australian connections Seven could have a lot of viewers new to football who will be there to barrack for the green and gold. “There will also of course be passionate football fans. We will ensure we really celebrate the event and everybody feels welcome.”
Seven will carry 10 games across the preliminary stages then cover two quarter finals, two semi-finals plus the final.
“For the Matilda’s matches we wanted a very Australian commentary,” said Martin. “Kirsty Bradmore is our fantastic executive producer. She also worked on our coverage of the Commonwealth Games and the Paralympics.
Grace Gill and David Basheer at FIFA Women’s World Cup for Seven
“We have an Australian commentary with David Basheer and Grace Gill. They are two wonderful people. David is a wonderful gentleman and I think Australia is going to fall in love with Grace Gill.”
Bashir is well-known to fans of World Cup football from his year covering the sport, including time working alongside the great Les Murray. Gill is a former player-turned-commentator.
Seven has activated its sports A-team for the World Cup coverage – Bruce McAvaney and Mel McLaughlin.
“Bashir and McAvaney are having a lot of fun,” Martin said. “And because it’s such a big event we have Mel McLaughlin working alongside Bruce.”
Speaking early in the tournament Martin was as excited as his commentators get when the Matildas are attacking. “It’s fresh for us…we have not covered a World Cup before and it’s exciting to be a part of it.”
Other football specialists who will feature in Seven’s coverage include Heather Garriock and Adam Peacock. “We also have Elise Kellond-Knight – who’d be playing if she didn’t have an injury – and Emma Freedman.”
Scoreline after the Matilda’s first match
Seven Sport: Live and on location
There will be no commentating from monitors in the studio for the FTA Women’s World Cup broadcaster in 2023. “We will be live and on location for all Matilda’s games and for the finals,” said Martin. “We have about 50 people working on the coverage. We felt it was important to be there on site.”
During the pandemic, broadcasters didn’t have the option much of the time of doing anything but studio commentary. Some broadcasters are finding it hard to justify the expense of returning commentators to venues. Not Seven.
“Our job is to make the viewers feel like they are right at the event. We have decided we are going to be there.
“There were some great broadcast innovations that came out of Covid. But being on site is an important addition to the viewing experience. It’s also more important to the callers to who want to feel part of the event. We have worked out a way that we can make it work operationally.”
Keeping Seven’s big event team together
When asked if it could be hard for Seven to keep its specialist team who work on big events like the Olympics and Commonwealth Games now that those events have gone elsewhere or are in doubt. Martin said: “We are big on our culture and I am very confident we will be able to retain the great talent we have on and off air. We have been on the record about the Olympics, it was not a difficult decision for us [not to bid that high].
“We still have AFL and cricket plus the digital rights across those sports. Also Supercars and horse racing. One of the things I enjoy most is the people I work with.”
Seven and the Commonwealth Games
Lewis Martin: “We are not across how and why the Commonwealth Games has come to this point. All sports broadcasters would be feeling that outcome is not a positive thing. Looking at what happened last week would have anybody in sports broadcasting saying to themselves it wasn’t ideal.”
Seven and the Melbourne Cup Carnival
With speculation Paramount ANZ might exit Flemington after this year’s Melbourne Cup Carnival, Seven would seem the favourite to see the big race return. “We are committed to horse racing,” responded Martin to a question about the first Tuesday in November. “We would love to have the Melbourne Cup back. It is part of the Australian horse racing landscape.” Without providing any more detail, he repeated…“We would love to have it back.”
See also: Peace breaks out – Lewis Martin on Seven’s strategy ending cricket war