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Fairfax and News Corp are boycotting the RWC

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matty_k

Peter Johnson (47)
Staff member
http://m.theaustralian.com.au/busin...rp-fairfax-media/story-fn9ymmvo-1227408795764

Australia’s two main news organisations, News Corp and Fairfax Media, have withdrawn from officially covering the 2015 rugby union World Cup in England and Wales after organisers insisted on draconian restrictions which would have impeded independent journalism.

I understand World Rugby wanting to protect their image but surely you can't restrict journalism this way.

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Pfitzy

George Gregan (70)
News Corp are worried about "impeding independent journalism"?

2j1mye1.gif
 

the sabanator

Ron Walden (29)
Regardless of the hypocrisy, I'm sure everyone here understands what an absolute disaster this is.

We need every inch and second of coverage we can get of our showcase event, and suddenly the IRB World Rugby is being so ridiculously restricting on their coverage rules the two big corporate bullies won't report on it.

The FIFA World Cup enjoyed unprecedented coverage here last year, especially considering our team is dogsh** and we're not a traditional soccer country. The RWC will now get f all coverage even though we have a top 5 team and are a traditional rugby power. Disaster.
 

The_Brown_Hornet

John Eales (66)
Yep, it's a disaster for the game here. Regardless of what you may think about News (remember Fairfax are also boycotting), this is a shit situation for the average Aussie rugby punter. We could win the whole thing and hardly anyone will hear about it!
 

Grandmaster Flash

Johnnie Wallace (23)
Yep, it's a disaster for the game here. Regardless of what you may think about News (remember Fairfax are also boycotting), this is a shit situation for the average Aussie rugby punter. We could win the whole thing and hardly anyone will hear about it!


This. ARU and IRB need to sort this out ASAP.
 

the sabanator

Ron Walden (29)
Australia’s two main news organisations, News Corp and Fairfax Media, have withdrawn from officially covering the 2015 rugby union World Cup in England and Wales after organisers insisted on draconian restrictions which would have impeded independent journalism.
World Rugby, the international body overseeing the World Cup and formerly known as the International Rugby Board, has demanded strict control of broadcasting interviews and news beyond existing Australian law, in return for providing journalists and photographers with access to games, training grounds and official team hotels at the tournament, which starts September 18.
World Rugby’s refusal to lift restrictions means that many rugby writers and photographers from Australia will not officially attend World Cup games.
It was a similar situation at the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, however on that occasion the journalists were able to interview team members at their hotels.

News Corp group editorial director Campbell Reid said: “You can’t agree to have the Rugby World Cup lanyard around your neck and then surrender your rights and obligations as a reporter and photographer.
“I would like to say we’ve had open and frank conversations with the Australian rugby officials and the sport in Australia needs all the coverage it can possibly get.’’
A sticking point in the negotiations is that World Rugby has insisted broadcast match content provided by accredited media must be geo-blocked and cannot continue to be available after 48 hours. This is to satisfy contracts signed by World Rugby with broadcasters in other parts of the world.
Some British news organisations were also concerned about the degree of control exerted by World Rugby, but it’s understood they have agreed to the accreditation conditions in order to cover a “home’’ tournament.
Behind the scenes, there is frustration that British and World Rugby officials do not understand the struggle Australian rugby union has for publicity in the country’s crowded football code market. Mr Reid agrees.
“The kinds of restrictions that they are asking us to live with not only expect us to abandon positions that are acceptable under Australian law, but they are demanding that we turn over to them the decisions of editing and publishing and how often we publish stories and how long we publish them for,” Mr Reid said.
“We find that extremely disappointing and the link between sports journalists and sports fans is hugely important in our view for both people who love rugby and people who play rugby and people who administer rugby. That seems to be not that important to people who control the game at an international level.’’
World Rugby spokesman Dominic Rumbles said he was aware the Fairfax and News Corp would not be accredited for the Rugby World Cup. He said World Rugby had made a raft of concessions from the terms and conditions of four years ago and officials had hoped this year’s conditions would have satisfied Australian media.
“World Rugby recognises the tremendous role that news organisations play in promoting rugby around the world and has collaborated to deliver a progressive protocol package that includes the use of match content online by global news organisations (a first by a major sporting event), the provision of the post-match press conference feed without restriction and access to the mixed zone for filming — all in addition to unrestricted access to teams between matches,” he said.
“This position recognises and balances the changing online media landscape with the need to protect the rights of our broadcasters and commercial partners, whose significant investment sustains the development and growth of rugby from the playground to the podium.
“We are disappointed for fans and remain hopeful of resolution.”
Mr Reid said the coverage of the Rugby World Cup and the Wallabies by News Corp would be ‘’very interesting and different’’ to what it has been in the past.
“Sometimes it (coverage) gets better because you have to think outside the square,’’ he said.
 

Strewthcobber

Mark Ella (57)
They did exactly the same thing before the last world cup - dated 24/08/2011


In an unprecedented move, Australia's leading news media organisations have informed the International Rugby Board that they will not be seeking accreditation to cover the World Cup in New Zealand.
Rupert Murdoch's News Limited organisation revealed last month that it would not send journalists and photographers to the tournament and today Fairfax Australia, publisher of major titles such as the Sydney Morning Herald and Melbourne Age, and the Australian Associated Press agency both announced they also would not seek accreditation.

 

louie

Desmond Connor (43)
This makes Green and Gold Rugby to be the single and official Australia news source for the RWC 2015!
 

TahDan

Cyril Towers (30)
I honestly don't understand WR (World Rugby)'s thinking on this. Are they trying to limit the exposure the sport's flagship event?


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cyclopath

George Smith (75)
Staff member
I honestly don't understand WR (World Rugby)'s thinking on this. Are they trying to limit the exposure the sport's flagship event?


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Trying to maximise their return from "owning" the product. Whether it works, I don't know.
 

Strewthcobber

Mark Ella (57)
I honestly don't understand WR (World Rugby)'s thinking on this. Are they trying to limit the exposure the sport's flagship event?
Don't get distracted by the journalism restrictions on interviews etc. That's just a smoke screen in the news ltd paper.

This is the key argument
World Rugby has insisted broadcast match content provided by accredited media must be geo-blocked and cannot continue to be available after 48 hours. This is to satisfy contracts signed by World Rugby with broadcasters in other parts of the world.

News and Fairfax want to be able to show highlights on their own website to get the traffic and advertising that that brings. But they haven't paid for the rights.

World Rugby will host their own highlights packages and have also sold online rights to others. They want the traffic and advertising $$$ for themselves.
 
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