NETWORKS - Ignore CNN embargo on ME news channel's footage of attacks on Afghanistan

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Networks Ignore CNN Embargo On Middle East News Channel's Footage of Attacks On Afghanistan

CNN was supposed to have a six-hour jump on Al-Jazeera's images of U.S. and British air strikes - but ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox picked them up immediately. by Stephen Battaglio

Sunday, October 07, 2001

Just shortly after the first military air strikes were launched Sunday inside Afghanistan, the broadcast news divisions were sniping at CNN for trying to embargo footage of the attacks from a Middle Eastern TV news service.

The embargo, which was intended to give CNN exclusive rights to Al-Jazeera’s images from Afghanistan for six hours after they aired, was immediately ignored by ABC, CBS, NBC, MSNBC and Fox News, which along with CNN all went on with continuous coverage shortly after 12:30 p.m. ET. And CNN has not put up a fight.

On Saturday, a letter from Qatar-based Al-Jazeera – the only TV news organization that has direct contact with the Taliban government and Osama bin Laden and permission to broadcast live from the regions under attack – warned the networks against using its pictures until six hours after they aired on CNN. "Any party that picks up material off Al-Jazeera air and runs it before Al-Jazeera lifts its embargo on it shall be held legally responsible and could face prosecution in a court of law," according to a letter from an Al-Jazeera executive that was provided to Inside.

But when the U.S. and British military strikes began, pictures from Al-Jazeera were used immediately by all the networks – several minutes before CNN went on with its first report. They also used a stunning taped message from bin Laden - his first verified statement since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks - that also came from Al-Jazeera’s air.

The network news divisions, several of which made their objections known to CNN after receiving the warning from Al-Jazeera, went on to denounce their competitor for trying to corner the market on TV images of an international crisis.

"When America was attacked on Sept. 11, the networks put competition aside and responsibly served the American public and shared footage," said NBC spokeswoman Barbara Levin. "When America struck back, CNN chose a different path, despite requests that they make the material available." The networks are arguing that they can legally use the Al-Jazeera material, because of "fair use" rules that allows a news organization to take another’s footage if it has "overwhelming news value," Levin said.

ABC News spokesman Jeffrey Schneider said "showing these images to the American people outweighed any commercial interest CNN was trying to pursue in this time of a national crisis." CBS News spokeswoman Sandy Genelius said: "The American public’s interest was served today by putting its right to be informed above petty competitive issues."

But CNN chairman Walter Isaacson said his channel had no immediate plans to stop competitors from using Al-Jazeera’s pictures. "Now that there is a war going on we’re not going to worry about it," he said. "It’s not something we’re focused on now. Our focus is to make sure everybody stays informed in this crisis."

CNN made an affiliation agreement with Al-Jazeera shortly after the Sept. 11 attacks on the U.S. in which the two sides exchange news footage and live pictures. CNN did not make any payment for the arrangement.

ABC, CBS and NBC provided coverage through most of Sunday afternoon, with Fox’s broadcast network switching away shortly after 1 p.m. ET to go ahead with National Football League coverage. CBS News went until 6 p.m. but gave affiliates the option to pick up NFL coverage. NBC shifted its scheduled NASCAR telecast to cable network TNT until news coverage ended at 4:30 p.m. ABC pre-empted its women’s golf coverage to stay on the air.

-- Anonymous, October 07, 2001

Answers

heeheeheeheehee.....

-- Anonymous, October 07, 2001

aka CensoredNewsNetwork.

-- Anonymous, October 07, 2001

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