Seven West Media receives deadline from Tennis Australia.

REPORTS have circled since last week that Seven Network intends to air both Cricket and the Australian Open this summer resulting in a scheduling clash.

Tennis Australia has clarified it expects Seven to broadcast the tournament on its main channel, a move that would relegate cricket to a secondary digital channel during clashes.

Tennis Australia’s 2019 Australian Open tournament starts on January 14 with a high probability of it clashing with the Twenty20 Big Bash League, for which Seven has the rights to simulcast 43 matches, with the majority of games played over December and January.

It’s understood Nine are interested in a deal for the 2019 Australian Open, but is comfortable with having no sport this coming summer if it does not like the financial terms getting tennis a year early.

With around $115 million less of cricket costs for the summer, Nine could be close to $50 million financially better off without tennis in 2019.