Twitter row threatens Premier League coverage

An obscure and complex row between newspapers and football’s governing bodies has already hit Football League coverage and threatens to disrupt the start of the Premiership season.  Newspaper coverage at the start of the football season last weekend was disrupted as journalists found themselves barred from football grounds.   A number of national newspapers retaliated by scrapping their match reports or omitted sponors’ names.

An obscure and complex row between newspapers and football’s governing bodies has already hit Football League coverage and threatens to disrupt the start of the Premiership season.  Newspaper coverage at the start of the football season last weekend was disrupted as journalists found themselves barred from football grounds.   A number of national newspapers retaliated by scrapping their match reports or omitted sponors’ names.


The dispute arises from the expiry of an agreement dating back to 2004 over what rights reporters and photographers covering matches should have.   The existing deal dates from two years before the Twitter service was launched.


One one side of the dispute is the Premier League and the Football League and on the other the News Media Coalition that represents newspapers and large news agencies (some smaller news agencies appear to have accreditation).    The complaint of the News Media Coalition is that the agreement no longer reflects the fast changing media landscape.  At the moment newspapers have only eight precise publishing windows that restrict when and how much is published on websites.   The other side has argued that journalists will have greater freedom to tweet and use the internet under the new agreement that is on the table.


Sponsors are trying to keep out of the dispute.   The Premier League sponsor, Barclays, said that they are not taking sides.  Lucozade, the official drinks partner of the Premier League, refused to comment, as did Nike, the official ball sponsor.   Npower, the title sponsor of the Football League, did say that they hoped negotiations would be concluded swiftly.


Some commentators think that football has shot itself in the foot by not encouraging maximum coverage on a marquee weekend.   Some football clubs have broken ranks and plan to give reporters access this weekend.