Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Score one for online video

In a start-of-the-season buzzer-beater, the NFL announced this week that its despised 45-second cap on online video will be relaxed for its broadcast rights holders - Fox, CBS, ESPN and NBC.

To sum up for readers unaware of the dispute: In June, the NFL instituted a rule that prohibited the media from posting more than 45 seconds of video per day that is shot at team facilities or features team personnel. Critics say the move was designed to force fans to visit NFL.com to get the goods.

The
Sports Business Journal reported Tuesday that the TV networks "argued that their rights fees - averaging more than $3B a year over the life of the contracts... should buy them more latitude for online video than an unaffiliated media outlet."

Still in play: Exactly how much video the rights holders will be allowed to post, and whether affiliate stations will reap the benefits of their parent networks.

-JACKIE SAUTER, Multimedia Editor

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