Fairfax Media CEO On Rugby World Cup Issues

Statement From Fairfax Media CEO Joan Withers On Rugby World Cup Issues And The Media

Fairfax Media New Zealand is dismayed at the restrictions the International Rugby Board has imposed on media wanting to fully cover the Rugby World Cup.

The IRB and its subsidiary RWC Ltd have declined all requests to meet and discuss a range of restrictions which will seriously affect the way this magnificent event is covered around the world.

Last night leading news agencies suspended their coverage of the build-up to the first round of games in France. The agencies, with the full support of a worldwide coalition of newspaper and magazine groups - of which Fairfax Media is a member - maintain they are unable to adequately cover the six-week tournament. They want the IRB to remove a disclaimer enabling it to change the terms and conditions of accreditation at anytime without consultation.

The restrictions impact on the agencies and companies such as Fairfax Media in different but significant ways.

The issues affecting Fairfax Media and others relate, in the main, to websites and the limits the IRB has imposed on what can be posted and when. These mainly relate to what news content can be provided to print media company websites.

Fairfax maintains that fair use provision would allow it to use its web platforms to supplement the print coverage from France. This would see news enhanced with video and audio as part of this web presence. After some agreement earlier, the IRB has closed off any access for web use.

Fairfax, through the coalition, and with other media companies in New Zealand and overseas, will continue to lobby the rugby authorities.

We want to give our readers and viewers a complete World Cup package and maintain we can do this without negative impact on the IRB or the arrangements it has with other stake-holders.

Restrictions relating to photographs were the main driver behind the decision last night of Reuters, Agence French-Presse, Associated Press, Getty and other agencies to take the unprecedented step of suspending all text, photographic and television cover.

They want permission to use considerably more than the IRB's limit of 40 photographs on web sites during matches. They also object to the three minute restriction on television footage allowed from official venues on non-match days. Other members of the coalition have concerns around other matters.

Fairfax Media supports the actions of the agencies.

As a media organisation, we are concerned at statements from senior IRB executives that sponsors and commercial partners of the World Cup do not believe our news coverage provides them with any benefit.

We believe this is an irresponsible and irrational view and we join the French Government and European Commission in urging the IRB to resume negotiations with the agencies and the coalition to avoid major damage to the game and the tournament.

Fairfax Media will continue to provide comprehensive coverage of the All Blacks and the World Cup via our team of five journalists and photographers attending the event.

We will also continue our dialogue with the IRB to resolve outstanding issues and will keep our readers fully informed of developments.
At all times our desire and commitment is to servicing rugby fans with the best and most comprehensive content available.

We would strongly urge cornerstone IRB member unions, such as those from New Zealand and Australia, to intervene to ensure coverage of the Rugby World Cup is not compromised.

ENDS

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