Television icon Daryl Somers is taking legal action against Channel 7, just weeks after being removed as host of Dancing With The Stars.
The Australian TV legend, 72, claims the network is infringing his copyright.
The lawsuit centers on the network’s use of footage from a performance by John Farnham on Hey Hey It’s Saturday.
Somers, who was succeeded by Seven’s new star, Dr. Chris Brown, as co-host of Dancing, had his exit from the show confirmed during Seven’s 2024 programming presentation on October 18.
On October 17, Somers’ company, Somers Enterprises Australia, commenced legal proceedings in the Federal Court, alleging that Seven Network had infringed copyright by using unapproved footage of Farnham performing ‘My Yiddeshe Mama’ with Tom Jones sang on a 1990 episode of Hey Hey It’s Saturday.
Television icon Daryl Somers is taking legal action against Channel 7, just weeks after being removed as host of Dancing With The Stars. The Australian TV legend, 72, claims the network is infringing his copyright. Pictured
The lawsuit centers on the network’s use of footage from a performance by John Farnham (pictured) on Hey Hey It’s Saturday
According to court documents, Somers Enterprises Australia, directed by both Somers and his wife Julie, has owned the copyright to the long-standing Australian television program since 2010.
The company also operates the online subscription streaming platform heyhey.tv, where viewers can access archived content from the show.
Seven Network used this footage in a Spotlight program special entitled ‘John Farnham: The Lost Tapes’, which aired on 6 August 2023 and was made available on its streaming platform, 7Plus.
Somers, who was succeeded by Seven’s new star, Dr. Chris Brown, as co-host of Dancing, had his exit from the show confirmed during Seven’s 2024 programming presentation on October 18.
Following a complaint from Somers’ team, Seven is said to have initially denied any copyright infringement, but subsequently removed the episode from its online platforms.
The Statement of Claim submitted by Somers Enterprises Australia argues that Seven Network had the opportunity to request permission to use the images, but failed to do so.
‘Prior to the broadcast of the Seven program, a representative from (Seven) contacted SEA (Somers Enterprises Australia) to inquire if Mr Somers would be willing to be interviewed for the… program; (Seven) had the opportunity to apply for a license to use the copyrighted works, but did not do so,” read the document.
On October 17, Somers’ company, Somers Enterprises Australia, commenced legal proceedings in the Federal Court, alleging that Seven Network had infringed copyright by using unapproved footage of Farnham performing ‘My Yiddeshe Mama’ with Tom Jones sang on a 1990 episode of Hey Hey It’s Saturday
It is alleged that Somers’ company has suffered losses and damages as a result of the Seven Network’s unauthorized use of the footage. The claimed losses include ‘damage to SEA’s commercial reputation through the broadcasting and streaming of inferior quality images of the performance’
It is alleged that Somers’ company has suffered losses and damages as a result of the Seven Network’s unauthorized use of the footage.
The claimed losses include ‘damage to SEA’s commercial reputation through the broadcasting and streaming of inferior quality images of the performance.’
The document also suggests a loss of profit for heyhey.tv because ‘people who would have paid to subscribe… will not do so because they watched the show for free on the Seven programme.’
Hey Hey It’s Saturday ran for 28 years on the Nine Network from 1971 to 1999, before returning for special episodes in 2009.
A new season of twenty episodes was launched in 2010, but the varied program did not return in 2011.
Hey Hey It’s Saturday ran for 28 years on the Nine Network from 1971 to 1999, before returning for special episodes in 2009. A new 20-episode season was commissioned in 2010, but the variety program did not return in 2011.