But the contract to cover the series was handed to the Australian state television ( ABC ) that paid 14 per cent less than what Packer was offering .
He had also shown interest to pay a large sum to cover the Australia - England series of 1977 .
The contract to cover the series was handed to the Australia state television ( ABC ) that paid 14 per cent less than what Packer was offering .
He had also shown interest to pay a large sum to cover the Australia - England series of 1977 .