NZ TV stations pack down in High Court over rugby coverage
14/09/2007 |
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Usually the rucks and mauls of rugby tend to stay on the field but a dispute between two New Zealand television broadcasters over Rugby World Cup television coverage has ended up before a High Court judge.
MediaWorks, the owner of free-to air broadcaster TV3 and Sky Network Television are battling it out in the High Court today in an unprecedented dispute following an injunction issued against Sky Television for what MediaWorks alleges is illegal coverage of the World Cup.
MediaWorks says it signed a deal with TVNZ and Sky Network Television, allowing coverage for news purposes but it alleges Sky used footage to which it had no right. TV3 has alleged that pay-TV operator Sky's use of footage in "magazine" style shows such as The Cup and Sport 365 Highlights breaches its exclusive rights to match broadcasts. Sky denies this.
Under the agreement Sky and Television New Zealand are allowed to broadcast limited match footage through a news access agreement, which incorporates what is known as "fair dealing".
This allows for the use of two minutes of match footage three times a day, as long as the coverage is presented as news.
TV3 Chief Operating Officer Rick Friesen told RadioLive journalist Jemma Dempsey on The World at Noon this afternoon New Zealand time that an agreement had not yet been found.
Today both sides presented their arguements and a judgement is expected around 6pm New Zealand time.
"In essence we have no issue with Sky or TVNZ running highlights in news programs as news coverage. It is a genuine part of journalism that should happen.
"Sky has gone way beyond this - using it in all it magazine programs. It is well beyond fair use," Friesen said.
Friesen said he believed the TV3 case was quite strong.
The temporary injunction against Sky runs out tonight.
(Source: AIPS)
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