Australian public-service broadcaster SBS is considering dropping coverage of the country’s main domestic cycling races unless it receives six months of payments owed to it by the Cycling Australia governing body, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
The newspaper said that Cycling Australia owes SBS AUS$150,000 (€105,000/$142,000) in fees, from May to the end of October, in their 2012-13 rights deal that expires at the end of this year.
It is also understood that SBS will not sign a new two-year contract for 2014 and 2015 until the amount is paid in full.
Events covered by SBS include the national road championships, track and BMX nationals and national mountain bike titles and series.
SBS head of sport Ken Shipp would not comment on the dispute, but confirmed there is currently no broadcast agreement in place for next year.
Cycling Australia’s acting president Robert Bates said: “Contractual arrangements between CA and all of our partners remain confidential, however our commercial strategy is underpinned by a solid model and we are committed to meeting all outstanding obligations. We look forward to finalising our arrangements with SBS in the near future and continuing to work closely with SBS to broadcast our events to cycling enthusiasts both locally and around the globe.”