- Channel 9 set to lose one other high-profile speaking head
The tug of battle between Channel 9 and Channel Seven over star AFL reporter Tom Morris’ signature has turned bitter after his defection reportedly hit a authorized snag.
Experiences say Morris knowledgeable Channel 9 final week that he’d be shifting to the rival Seven Community.
However now it is understood bosses at 9 Leisure are trying on the prospect of activating a non-compete clause present in Morris’ present contract. It is all a part of an effort to dam his transfer to Seven for as much as the following six months, in keeping with News Corp.
It will not be the primary time 9 has tried to throw a spanner into the works as a star departed for Seven.
A precedent has been set with the community not permitting former Footy Categorised star Caroline Wilson, who give up this system to hitch Seven’s The Agenda Setters, to be a part of the promoting for the brand new present earlier than it debuted.
The battle for Tom Morris’s signature has triggered much more stress between two of Australia’s main TV networks
Revered footy reporter Caroline Wilson (pictured) additionally defected from 9 to Seven
Morris (pictured alongside AFL champion Tony Lockett) may very well be tripped up by a contract clause as he tries to modify to 9’s greatest rival
Morris shifting to Seven would proceed a run of defections from 9’s footy protection workforce.
Kane Cornes defected to Seven in a bombshell transfer that went public in late 2024, becoming a member of Wilson.
Morris’s newest swap was reportedly pushed by his want to work on cricket – which Seven holds the rights to – in addition to AFL gameday broadcasts.
The information comes greater than three years after his contract with earlier employer Fox Sports activities was terminated in scandalous circumstances in March 2022.
Morris’s popularity took a serious hit after offensive feedback he made on audio and video in WhatsApp chats have been made public.
He was sacked after audio of him making offensive feedback about then colleague Megan Barnard was leaked to social media, along with remarks he made about Asians, black individuals, ladies and homosexual individuals.
Morris recovered from that and was employed by 9 in November 2023.
The skilled reporter even picked up a prestigious award for his work on SEN Radio on the Australian Soccer Media Affiliation Awards that very same yr.
Regardless of being sacked from Fox Sports activities in 2022, Morris (pictured with fellow SEN star Gerard Whateley) claimed a revered award lower than two years later
Kane Cornes (pictured) additionally joined the Seven Community earlier this yr, and was met with resistance from a big share of AFL followers
Morris is pictured throughout his time with Fox Sports activities, which got here to a scandalous finish in 2022
Morris, 34, is at present on depart from work.
He’s contracted to 9 till December 31.
If the transfer to Seven is accomplished with none additional points, it’s going to remember to gas the rivalry between the broadcasters, which noticed stars from either side take pot pictures at one another all through the 2025 season.
Each 9 and Seven have been contacted for remark.
