TV war over athletes

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SWIMMING superstar Grant Hackett is at the centre of a Commonwealth Games row brewing between the Nine and Seven networks.

Channel Seven has told the Herald Sun it plans to use world-beater Hackett as a special correspondent on its national news programs during the Melbourne Games.

In addition to ploughing though the pool, Hackett would mike up for Seven News, Today Tonight and Sunrise.

Kerry Packer’s Nine has paid $56 million for the Australian rights to the Games and yesterday was examining the fine print of its deal. Amid an industry belief it paid too much, Nine is desperate to maximise its hold on athletes — and ratings — and squeeze Seven out.

While Nine has exclusive rights inside venues and the Games village, it has no special sway outside official Games zones.

But Nine could enlist Australian Commonwealth Games team management to help protect its investment.

Each Australian team member must sign a contract, which includes a clause banning the athlete from acting as a journalist.

Just what constitutes a journalistic report as opposed to an appearance could become a question for lawyers.

Adding insult to potential injury, until last month Hackett was a key member of Nine’s celebrity athlete team.

Seven poached the 25-year-old in the weeks before his stunning triple-gold performance at the world titles in Montreal.

He signed with Seven for a six-figure annual fee.

Seven spokesman Simon Francis said Hackett started with the network on August 1 and was learning the ropes in the Brisbane newsroom.

“We reckon Grant’s one of the great talents that can migrate from sport to television,” he said.

“He’s keen to pursue a career in television . . . we’re looking at migrating him to network programming.”

Of plans for the Games, Mr Francis said: “He’ll be reporting for Seven News and Today Tonight and Sunrise.”

He conceded the move would create bad blood between Seven and its major rival. “One thing of which you can be sure — there will always be tension between Seven and Nine,” he said.

Channel Nine did not respond to a request for comment.

Hackett’s rival as leader of the Australian swim pack, Ian Thorpe, is tied to Foxtel.

Thorpe was due to discuss plans for the Commonwealth Games with Foxtel management today.

He is developing a lifestyle program for the pay-TV network. The show is due to be launched early next year as hype builds to the March Commonwealth Games.

Nine’s stable of athletes for the Games includes swimmers Jodie Henry and Brooke Hanson, hurdler Jana Pittman, diver Chantelle Newbery and cyclist Ryan Bayley.

Foxtel is negotiating with Nine to be appointed secondary Games broadcaster.