Sensational emails have emerged in a court case where the corporate regulator is attempting to have media-buying mogul Harold Mitchell banned from managing corporations.

Key points: Former Tennis Australia directors Harold Mitchell and Stephen Healy are accused of stymying competition for the Australian Open TV rights

Former Tennis Australia directors Harold Mitchell and Stephen Healy are accused of stymying competition for the Australian Open TV rights The Federal Court saw emails from Seven's commercial director, including one that read, "Harold swears we are safe"

The Federal Court saw emails from Seven's commercial director, including one that read, "Harold swears we are safe" ASIC is seeking fines and disqualification of Mr Healy and Mr Mitchell for alleged breaches of their directors' duties

Mr Mitchell is contesting allegations that he stymied competitors to help the Seven Network retain domestic broadcast rights to the Australian Open tennis without going to a competitive tender.

"I will call Harold about this," Seven's commercial director Brian McWilliam wrote in an email tendered to the court, responding to media mogul Kerry Stokes and other executives as the deal was thrashed out early in 2013.

"Harold swears we are safe."

Tennis Australia's then-president and chair of the board, Stephen Healy, is also being pursued by the regulator, which has alleged both men breached their directors' duties by withholding information from the board.

ASIC is seeking "pecuniary penalties" — fines — and orders that would see both men bundled out from corporate life by being disqualified from managing corporations.

In an earlier email, Mr McWilliam contacted Seven executives and directors Tim Worner and Don Volte about a meeting that was not attended by Mr Healy.

"Steve wasn't at the meeting, just Harold," he wrote, "who insists it is all going to plan".

Former Tennis Australia president Stephen Healy is also being pursued by ASIC. ( AAP: Julian Smith )

A Crown Resorts director, close friend of the Packer family and arts philanthropist, Mr Mitchell is in the Federal Court defending a barrage of allegations from the corporate regulator about his behaviour as a director of Tennis Australia.

Specifically, the case concerns the awarding the Australian Open tennis domestic broadcast rights to Channel Seven in 2013 without a competitive tender.

A board split in 2016 led three Tennis Australia directors to quit days before the signature tournament.

Both Mr Mitchell and Mr Healy deny the allegations and are vigorously defending them. At the recent annual general meeting of Crown Resorts, Mr Mitchell spoke briefly about the case.

"It's a civil matter, it's something that happened seven years ago," he told shareholders.

"I deny vehemently any wrongdoing. I'm vigorously defending these claims … I fully expect to win this proceeding and clear my name."

Media heavyweights set to enter the witness box

The trial has run 12 days and heard from just eight witnesses so far, with another eight yet to be called.

Current and former directors of Tennis Australia — Stephen Ayles, Scott Tanner, Janet Young, Kerryn Pratt, Christopher Freeman and James Davies — and former chief executive Steven Wood have been heard.

Broadcasting heavyweights David Gyngell, Jeffrey Browne — both of Channel Nine — and Hamish McClennan from Channel 10 are appearing in coming days.

In the civil trial, ASIC alleges Mr Mitchell and Mr Healy:

Withheld material information from the board when it made its decision;

Withheld material information from the board when it made its decision; Failed to ensure that the board was fully informed about the value of the rights and the interest of parties other than Seven — such as Channel 10, Channel 9 and international sports broker IMG — in acquiring them; and

Failed to ensure that the board was fully informed about the value of the rights and the interest of parties other than Seven — such as Channel 10, Channel 9 and international sports broker IMG — in acquiring them; and Did not advise the board it was likely to obtain better terms by putting the rights out to competitive tender.

ASIC makes further allegations that Mr Mitchell:

Passed confidential information about competitors to Seven, as well as the "views and negotiating position of Tennis Australia's management and board" about the rights;

Passed confidential information about competitors to Seven, as well as the "views and negotiating position of Tennis Australia's management and board" about the rights; Downplayed the interests of other parties in the rights; and

Downplayed the interests of other parties in the rights; and Encouraged the board to give the rights to Seven instead of putting the rights out to competitive tender.

The court has heard Mr Mitchell strongly endorsed the Seven deal to the board and had revealed the other offers to Seven executives, as well as sharing the internal and external valuation reports.

"Mr Mitchell is pushing Tennis Australia to do a deal with Channel Seven," ASIC lawyer, Michael Pearce, told the court while referring to documents.

The trial before Justice Jonathan Beach continues.

Channel Nine finally won the rights to broadcast the Australian Open from 2020 in a new five-year, $300 million deal sealed with Tennis Australia in 2018.