News agencies to boycott IPL

[abaya]

News agencies to boycott IPL

Cricinfo staff

April 7, 2009

Major international news agencies would not be covering this year's IPL because they are unhappy with the tournament's media guidelines. They had boycotted the previous year's IPL for the same reason.

The News Media Coalition, the umbrella body that comprises global news and photograph agencies Reuters, AP, AFP and Getty Images, has failed to get the tournament's organisers to amend the conditions.

Lalit Modi, the IPL chairman, refused to change rules which barred the distribution of photographs and news to cricket-specific websites. The IPL has an exclusive agreement to supply news and photos about the Twenty20 tournament to one website.

"We can't allow the sponsor of a newsworthy event to specify where news gets distributed," Dave Tomlin, the AP's associate general counsel, said. "This is a case in which a sports association is now in the information business too and is trying to carve out an exclusive segment of the news market as its own to exploit. It's wrong."

Last year, besides agencies, news channels in India had also threatened a boycott over the constraints laid down by the IPL before agreeing to cover it after the tournament's organisers acceded to their main demands.

© Cricinfo

http://content.cricinfo.com/ipl2009/content/current/story/398691.html

[Gangsta]

As long as it is legal, it is not wrong. But man, can the BCCI get any cheaper...

[ujjwala]

The kind of coverage we got, was after the boycott???

[pokeye]

The news agencies will lose out and cave.

[agantuk]

This is like the producer of a small film threatening the multiplex to give him a 70% share. Extremely funny :rofl:

More seriously [:hmm:] they are talking about boycotting for a couple of days since they are exhausted following the KKR team everywhere.

[pa_nat69]

The kind of coverage we got, was after the boycott???

No when they threatend to boycott last year then a meeting was held and finally IPL agreed to the newsagencies suggestions and then the problem was resolved. Now again the same problem cropped up. But since that is the first year and they need a lot of publicity and therefore the IPL people obliged, But seeing after the first years success will they oblige even in the second year or not we have to wait and see.

[saania]

same thought came to my mind!The kind of coverage we got, was after the boycott???

[abaya]

News agencies to cover IPL

Cricinfo staff

April 9, 2009

The IPL has relaxed its stringent media guidelines for covering the tournament and the major news agencies including Reuters and AP are now preparing to cover the event.

The News Media Coalition (NMC), on behalf of media interests worldwide, had been in discussion with the IPL about media accreditation arrangements and Andrew Moger, executive director of the NMC told Cricinfo: "It will bring a resolution to the difficult conversations we have had."

And in a statement he added: "The outcome allows us to provide coverage of what promises to be a news-worthy spectacle. We are grateful for the time that the IPL's officers have put into our successful dialogue."

Lalit Modi, the IPL commissioner, said: "We are pleased to have reached this agreement with the global news media industry. This will now allow IPL fans across the world to gain access to the festival of sport and entertainment that is set to unfold here in South Africa over the next few weeks. It was always our intention to given an event like the IPL its proper due by having it covered by the world's media. We are pleased to have reached this agreement."

Last year's inaugural IPL was boycotted by all three agencies after they refused to follow the strict rulings laid down by Modi over the distribution of editorial material and images. The NMC had initially failed to get the tournament's organisers to amend the conditions for this year's event which has been shifted to South Africa.

Now, though, Modi has softened his stance and the change of countries could well have played a part in him have to concede ground to the news outlets. It is understood that the terms and conditions have been significantly amended, although not every issue has been completely agreed upon.

Last year, besides agencies, news channels in India had also threatened a boycott over the constraints laid down by the IPL before agreeing to cover it after the tournament's organisers acceded to their main demands.

© Cricinfo
http://content.cricinfo.com/ipl2009/content/current/story/398982.html