BCCI re-affirms its stand on photo syndication agencies

MUMBAI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has affirmed that it will not go back on its decision of not allowing photo syndication agencies to cover the on-going India-England series.

The BCCI defended its decision of not granting accreditation by contending that the primary businesses of photo syndication agencies involved the commercial sale and licensing of images rather than the supply of images to news publications for editorial purposes.

The cricket board had refused to grant accreditation to photo syndication agencies like Getty Images to cover the series which drew criticism from the international media with news agencies like AFP, AP and Reuters boycotting the series.

"The BCCI stands by its decision, which is based on the legitimate interest of prioritising and limiting stadium access to those persons and entities primarily involved in news reporting activities and, thereby, promoting the public interest in consuming news and editorial comment from diverse sources," BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale said in a statement.

"Certain other international and domestic applicants did not meet the BCCI?s accreditation standards on the basis that, in the BCCI?s good faith opinion after due evaluation, their primary businesses involved the commercial sale and licensing of images rather than the supply of images to news publications for bona fide editorial purposes. These applications were duly rejected and the BCCI?s decision was communicated to the applicants," the statement added.

The BCCI provided accreditation to many international news publications and news agencies to cover the series and provide unlimited number of match images for editorial use by their respective publications and agency clients worldwide.

With the BCCI standing firm on its decision, it needs to be seen whether the international news agencies will call off their boycott.

The BCCI also clarified that it has not placed any restrictions on the number, nature or type of images that can be captured or published by accredited photo journalists from bona fide publications and news agencies.

These accredited persons were presented the opportunity by the BCCI to supply an unlimited number of match images for editorial use by their respective publications and agency clients worldwide.

The BCCI has decided to supply a limited number of images to accredited media outlets due to the boycott by agencies.

"This was neither the intended nor desired approach of the BCCI for the series but is a facility made available to all bona fide media outlets given the decision by accredited news agencies to not undertake coverage," the statement clarified.

The Britain?s Society of Editors executive director Bob Satchwell had said that the BCCI?s decision will damage the ability of the press to cover cricket. He also termed BCCI?s decision to provide in-house photography as a dangerous precedent.

The BCCI denied allegations of censorship against it and termed the allegations of media censorship grossly misrepresenting the facts.

"The BCCI does not, and has no intention to, censor or limit bona fide news reporting. Any attempt by third parties to portray the BCCI?s legitimate decision, as described above, as media censorship grossly misrepresents the facts," the BCCI affirmed.