The downside of the ESPN deal....

[wkuvol]

http://www.govolsxtra.com/news/2009/aug/07/sec-expected-impose-new-restrictions-media/

Looks like ESPN is going to ration the highlights to protect their investment. I wonder what that will do to shows like the Sunday shows in Knoxville, excluding the Kiffin Show & the Knoxville stations that give extended coverage to the Vols.

As for only being able to air highlights for 72 hours after the games seems ludicrous.

[real turf fan]

Athletic departments ........concerns.... Ranging from the wording of the policy — which, as it now stands, limits credentials to “full-time salaried” employees (many news organizations pay hourly wages, employ part-time workers and use freelancers) — to the task to implementing its mandates.



Who would have thought the New York Times would come down on the side of the fans (ok, it's a shared side) because coverage earns them money:



“We believe that the new policy is an arbitrary attempt to limit independent news reporting on SEC sporting events and ultimately to restrict the coverage that SEC fans have long enjoyed and have every right to expect as supporters of SEC teams and taxpayers financing SEC institutions,”

And this one isn't going to fly:


A summary printed on the back of each ticket (likely starting next year with football, since tickets for this season already have been distributed) forbids fans from taking photographs or sharing accounts or descriptions of the event.



The article is copyrited so I tried to limit my quotes, but there's lots more meat there that govolxtra left out.


http://www.tidesports.com/article/20090807/NEWS/908079994/1011?Title=SEC-enacts-new-media-policy