The Guardian
PRESS BLACKOUT LOOMS
The Guardian
Premier League and Football League matches are facing a press blackout from next Monday following the breakdown of negotiations over an agreement regulating newspaper coverage of games.
National newspaper owners are refusing to accept demands that digital publishing of match photographs is subject to a two-hour time delay and that up to 7% of revenues from "fantasy football" competitions is returned to clubs.
National newspaper owners are refusing to accept demands that digital publishing of match photographs is subject to a two-hour time delay and that up to 7% of revenues from "fantasy football" competitions is returned to clubs.
If the dispute with DataCo, the company representing both league bodies, is not resolved before midnight on Sunday, journalists and photographers from national newspapers could be barred from all 92 league grounds.
The crux of the disagreement is the burgeoning use of football images online and via mobile devices, potentially lucrative markets for football clubs.
Sources close to the Premier League said newspapers could attempt to establish picture messaging services, which they are not licensed to do.
"Mobile phone operators have to operate under rules and licences," the source said. "If a newspaper wants to diversify into that sort of area then the relationship is being changed and the terms of that relationship have to change ... you cannot have journalists feeding out pictures into the market at will."
The dispute has already affected coverage of top-flight football. For several weeks some national titles have printed results and league tables omitting the names of the Premier League's sponsor, Barclays Bank, and the Football League's backer, Coca-Cola, in protest at DataCo's proposals.
This prompted letters from DataCo threatening legal action against newspapers for breach of contract. Last night the Guardian said it would remove the league sponsors from its coverage in protest at DataCo's tactics.
"We can't speak for others, but have now reviewed the generous policy we have pursued thus far and can see no reason why we should use the sponsors' names. From today, we shan't," said Chris Elliott, managing editor of the Guardian.
Spokesmen for the Premier League and the Football League said both bodies remained open to negotiations and played down fears of a press lockout.
Mr Oram said: "We are perfectly aware that clubs need to have something to sell. Many of the clubs are in a parlous state ... We are trying to be fair here."