Changes to RWC 2007 news access regulations

Changes to RWC 2007 news access regulations

13 JUNE 2007, irb.com

Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL) has announced that it is to adjust the News Access Regulations applicable to Rugby World Cup 2007 in terms of the use of audio-visual material. RWCL has taken this decision in the interests of achieving and encouraging maximum media coverage of the Tournament following a record number of media accreditation applications.

The Regulations, until now, only allowed Rights Holding broadcasters to publish audio-visual material from official venues and functions. Or Non Rights Holding news organisations to utilise audio-visual material in regularly scheduled, bona fide news programming/news bulletin of which the actual local, regional, national or international news elements constitute the main feature of the programmes. The Regulations stated that such regularly scheduled news did not include any so-called “on demand” news whether internet or otherwise.

However, RWCL has now decided to allow Non Rights Holding news organisations to publish audio-visual content (arising from non-match day activities only) on their news websites.

The amended News Access Regulations now stipulate that news organisations (including Non Rights Holding television and internet broadcasters and other electronic media) providing coverage of the Tournament via their websites may include on such websites up to 3 minutes per day of non-live audio-visual footage taken from training sessions and/or press conferences and/or associated interview material on non-match days only. For the avoidance of doubt match day footage (whether footage of a match or match day press conference at an RWCL controlled venue) shall not be broadcast via such websites.

RWCL believes that this enhancement to the service available to news websites will increase the news coverage of the Tournament and increase the promotion of the event while at the same time maintaining the value of the licenses purchased by the Rights Holding Broadcasters.

This decision was made by RWCL following discussions with a number of news organisations around the world and in response to the ever-changing landscape of news coverage. RWCL will not be amending the News Access Regulations or the Terms and Conditions of Media Accreditation applicable to Rugby World Cup 2007 any further.

With less than 90 days until the opening match of the Tournament on 7 September, RWCL is confident in achieving the best possible coverage of the Tournament.