AFL Photos creates a storm

[cwphoto]

Looks like Getty are cranky about losing the deal for the next five years:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/afl/anger-as-exclusive-deal-keeps-world-media-out/2007/03/12/1173548108038.html

[Honest Gaza]

Well CW....now you know who kidnapped your "L" lens.

[Riley]

are they preventing people from
taking photos, in the grounds, at the game, of the players
or publishing those of the above ?

[cwphoto]

are they preventing people from
taking photos, in the grounds, at the game, of the players
or publishing those of the above ?

No. It's just international media who have been denied accreditation. I believe the average punter is welcome to bring their cameras to the games and take whatever they like for personal use.

A storm in a teacup really (undoubtedly originating from a disgruntled Getty Account Manager) as the game has almost zero relevance outside Australia.

The stuff about the AFL controlling content is just propaganda to pad out the story. All the major Australian newspapers still have the right to send their photographers to the matches and publish what they like, so there's absolutely no question about editorial integrity.

Must be a slow news week... :rolleyes:

[Riley]

yeah, thats what i couldnt figure out, seems illogical
not surprised the Herald ran it though

[cwphoto]

yeah, thats what i couldnt figure out, seems illogical
not surprised the Herald ran it though

Yeah, a total lack of balance. "Don't let the facts get in the way of a good story" seems to be the Herald's motto these days.

I love this little gem:
"Domestic news agency AAP is allowed to take photographs, but is not allowed to sell them to websites, books or magazines."

Er, hello? Photo agencies such as AAP and Getty have had such priviledges for years. My most recent experience being when I was shooting A-League. Getty had the rights for all commercial sales. Their photographers also had greater access to the best shooting positions etc.

Assigning such rights is nothing new. The problem is obviously that such rights didn't get assigned to one of the established agencies - and they don't like it.

Obviously the Journo didn't either. Including a quote like that insinuates that the practice isn't common (which it most certainly is) - it's what I call a truthful lie, if this was merchandising/advertising she would almost certainly be held accountable for deceptive and misleading conduct in this country.

But hey, the media answers to no-one... :cool:

[Riley]

well television has been doing this for some time
and most of this scrap is why we suffer logo's on pretty much every program

still, they must be hurting to push the button so hard

[cwphoto]

Another classic:
"Getty Images Australasia vice-president Stuart Hannagan said he had no issues with the AFL taking the commercial side of the photographic business in-house."

Are you kidding? Let's get one thing perfectly clear: Photo agencies (such as Getty) live and breathe on profit like every other corporation. Commercial photo sales are massively important to such agencies.

So while the author of this article uses inuendo and half-truths to paint a misguided picture of the AFL's relationship with it's new rights holder, they have the gall to print an obvious lie by the CEO of Getty Australasia to support their story.

Getty CEO in private: fuming that they didn't pick up the rights, there go the yearly sales targets and his remit.
Getty CEO in public: hey we are disappointed for the editorial world, but we're OK with commercial.

Excuse me while a grab a bucket to clean up this vomit.

[cwphoto]

still, they must be hurting to push the button so hard

Damn right they are.

I mean there aren't too many of these national sporting gigs going around:
AFL, Rugby League, Rugby Union, Soccer, and Cricket would be the top five.

Of these the AFL would arguably be the biggest earner - that's a huge loss when you consider the deal is for five years.

Nice how it was done though. Getty can't be seen to be the bad bastards as it will kill them for AFL in the future.

But using a back-channel like the WAN gets the message across while they remain clean - nice move. Some of their guys have a career in Canberra or Washington I'm sure.

[Riley]

well CEO's come and go on their contract performance
he who laughs last :D