Seven said it had launched pre-action discovery proceedings in the Federal Court, seeking orders requiring rival News Ltd consortium to provide all relevant documents relating to the rights negotiations. News Ltd is the Australian arm of Rupert Murdoch's media giant News Corp Ltd.
"We are concerned that there may have been a use of market dominance in negotiations with both the National Rugby League and the Australian Football League with a view to kill off our pay television sports channel, C7, and cement a monopoly in premium sports rights," Seven managing director of new media and investments Steve Wise said in a statement.
Seven alleged the parties involved may have entered into "anti-competitive arrangements" and its action may be a precursor to legal proceedings.
In January, the News Ltd consortium - including pay television leader Foxtel, Telstra Corp Ltd and Kerry Packer's Publishing & Broadcasting Ltd - won the AFL 2002-2006 broadcast rights in a A$500 million deal, winning them from Seven which will have held the AFL rights for 45 years.
Fox Sports was also awarded the 2001-2006 NRL rights at around the same time.
Seven shares were one cent higher at A$7.57 by mid-afternoon.
Reuters
Australian broadcaster Seven Network launched legal action on Monday seeking information on the award of lucrative National Rugby League (NRL) and Australian Football League (AFL) television rights to a rival consortium.
