Stephens case: Seven used ‘carrot and stick’ to keep veteran programmer claims Ten

Network Ten has accused rival Seven of using a carrot and a stick to retain valued programmer John Stephens after he announced he would resign from the network to take a job with Ten.

A legal case bought by Ten against Seven over the veteran programmer heard Seven had threatened Stephens with legal action, and looked at offering him a job with Nine’s fledgling StreamCo venture, which it emerged the network has been collaborating on.

The NSW Supreme Court heard in the opening address from David Studdy SC, representing Network Ten, who revealed a series of emails sent by Seven executives after Stephens signed a contract with Ten.