ICC bleeds blue; Lifts ban on news channels!

Following a lengthy meeting at the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in New Delhi, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has lifted the ban on news channels for the World Cup Final between India and Sri Lanka. The decision was brought about after the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) and the Broadcast Editors Association (BEA) refused to give assurances that they would desist from breaching the News Access Guidelines for Broadcasters for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 in their news programming.

Accordingly, the ICC had decided to commence legal action against the companies involved rather than bar the stations from the ICC Cricket World Cup final.

Haroon Lorgat, the ICC Chief Executive, said: "Accreditations were issued to the NRH reporters and cameramen on condition that these guidelines were observed. Subsequently those guidelines were breached on several occasions, particularly in respect of the blatant commercialization of ICC World Cup footage and proprietary data by certain news broadcasters. In the interests of the event, we have agreed to reinstate their accreditation for the final match of this hugely successful World Cup. However, following a number of written warnings to the channels concerned, it is now time for the ICC to act through the courts."

However in a statement issued by The News Broadcasters Association (NBA) it is noted that the ICC has seen reasons and understood the true nature of the ICC CWC 2011 India - Sri Lanka final matches and restored accreditation to our Member Channels. This is in large measure due to the constructive intervention of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, including the personal interest shown by Mrs. Ambika Soni, Hon'ble Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, who has truly appreciated the sensitivities and rights of the Indian viewers.

However, NBA rejects the ICC's position that their Members had violated any Guidelines agreed with ICC; especially since, NBA Members have meticulously adhered to the NBA News Access Guidelines and the dispensation available to them under Indian laws, which clearly must prevail over ICC's independent actions.

The statement also explains that NBA Members are responsible broadcasters and are conscious of the rights and obligations of the parties, including those of the ICC, broadcasters and the Indian public.

By restoring authorization ICC has also recognized that it must subject itself to the prevalent laws governing "fair use' in the host country.

With the ban being lifted for the World Cup Final news broadcasters can now bring to us a wide coverage of the epic match scheduled today at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. | By Vanessa Azavedo [vanessa(at)adgully.com]