Updated: Ten tells Seven ‘we will not be bullied’ amid claims John Stephens was on prescription drugs when he signed contract
Network Ten has said it held long negotiations with programmer John Stephens after rivals Seven said he was under the influence of prescription drugs when he signed on with the network, with Ten retorting it “is not prepared to be bullied”.
Ten released the statement this morning following The Australian’s publication of an email exchange between Stephens and Ten CEO Hamish McLennan, in which Stephens blamed the influence of heavy painkillers for his decision to leave Seven for Ten.
The senior Seven executive had announced he would leave Kerry Stokes’ network to take the job as director of scheduling and acquisitions at Network Ten on March 7.
