Australia's Senate will this week examine a critical dispute between sports administrators and global media over the use of digital technology to cover sporting events. The issue has become increasingly controversial, sparking media boycotts of major events as sports bodies seek to impose strict conditions on how games are reported on platforms such as the Internet and mobile phones. Th
e Senate will hear from media executives and sporting chiefs in what is believed to be the first parliamentary inquiry anywhere into a global issue set to shape the way sports fans follow games in the digital era. Media organisations argue that reporting sports events has been an integral part of news coverage for more than 150 years and has played a crucial role in promoting games internationally. They say press freedom means they should have still have unfettered access to report sport regardless of what technology is used, pointing out that means of communication have changed regularly over the centuries. The News Media Coalition, representing a raft of international media groups, said in its submission: "Clearly event organisers have legitimate commercial interests which they need to protect and pursue.
"However, it is equally clear that there is a genuine public interest in a free flow of independently gathered and represented news material to the public including the fans that are unable to attend the event themselves." Sports administrators, however, say it will jeopardise their lucrative rights deals if all media can send text, pictures and video to digital platforms without tough restrictions. In a written submission, Cricket Australia (CA) accused some media organisations of "exploiting CA copyright material under the guise of news reporting by displaying large volumes of content for unlimited amounts of time."
e Senate will hear from media executives and sporting chiefs in what is believed to be the first parliamentary inquiry anywhere into a global issue set to shape the way sports fans follow games in the digital era. Media organisations argue that reporting sports events has been an integral part of news coverage for more than 150 years and has played a crucial role in promoting games internationally. They say press freedom means they should have still have unfettered access to report sport regardless of what technology is used, pointing out that means of communication have changed regularly over the centuries. The News Media Coalition, representing a raft of international media groups, said in its submission: "Clearly event organisers have legitimate commercial interests which they need to protect and pursue.It says such actions threaten CA's media rights, its main income stream, under which organisations such as broadcasters and mobile phone companies pay for exclusive in-depth access to matches. News agencies, including AFP, have boycotted Australian cricket series against South Africa, Sri Lanka and New Zealand in recent years, refusing to accept news coverage restrictions that CA says protect its commercial interests. There have been similar stand-offs at last year's Indian Premier League Twenty 20 tournament and the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France, which was resolved just before the event began. The Senate hearing will attempt to find a balance between the competing interests and report back to parliament by May 14.
Source:www.lankabusinessonline.com/fullstory.php?nid=1681780457
No comments:
Post a Comment