Sydney- The Federal Court has rejected the Seven Network’s court action alleging anti-competitive conduct caused the demise of its C7 pay TV sports service in 2002. Seven had sought damages from News Limited, Publishing and Broadcasting Ltd, and Foxtel, among others. Justice Ron Sackville described the legal costs incurred by the parties of “A$200 million (US$175.2 million) and counting” as bordering on the “scandalous.” Costs will be determined in September. Sackville said that even if the consortium of respondents had the objective attributed to it by Seven – that of killing C7 – “achieving that objective could not have substantially lessened competition in the retail television market.” He added: “I find that Seven has not made out its pleaded case in relation to Foxtel’s refusal to accept so-called offers by Seven to supply its channels and Foxtel by refusing to negotiate with C7 pending the award of the AFL broadcasting rights did not take advantage of its market power.”