Ten and Seven head to court after programmer John Stephens elects to stay with former employer
Network Ten’s latest hire of John Stephens has erupted in a legal battle with the Seven Network after the veteran programmer decided to stay with his former employer.
Stephens had signed a contract with Ten to join the network as director of scheduling and acquisitions earlier this month, however he then decided to stay with the Seven Network where he has worked since 2003.
As a result Ten started legal action against Seven, accusing the rival network of inducing him to breach his new contract with them.
An interim injunction was obtained by Ten on Friday preventing Seven from inducing Stephens to breach the contract. However that injunction was not extended by Justice Paul Brereton in the NSW Supreme Court yesterday and Ten was ordered to pay Seven’s costs, as Stephens was granted permission to return to his work at Seven.
The judge also ordered an expediated hearing expected to be held in around five weeks, and to be the start of a long dispute.
A Ten spokesman said: “The case is about Seven inducing John Stephens to breach his contract with Ten. Indeed, today Justice Paul Brereton said there is a seriously arguable case that Seven has engaged in conduct that constitutes an interference with Ten’s agreement with John Stephens.”
CEO Hamish McLennan had said Stephens was a “critically important addition” as the network seeks to bounce back from some of its poorest ratings on record despite a brighter start to the year.
Seven has not responded to requests for comment.
Megan Reynolds
…and you wonder why the FTA’s can’t get their collective IPTV shit together.
I wish they’d spend this much time and resources on their programming rather than these repeated handbags.
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ha ha ha ha ahaaaa
funnier than anything channel 10 broadcasts.
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With TEN continually in court for staffing issues…Bring back a re-run of THE BOX
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Please something has to give at the top at 10. Worst ratings so they secure a programmer middle 60’s from 7 and he changes his mind and says not for me. The closest to Keystone Cops I have ever seen at senior management.
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“Middle sixties” now that’s a problem. Too much experience I guess. I guess Peter Meakin must be an even bigger dinosaur.
Go and do your hair…..again. Btw what’s your star sign?
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