Boston-based WBCN-FM, the Patriots' flagship radio
station, "denied" the Vikings' Internet broadcasters, KFAN,
access to yesterday's game at Foxboro Stadium, "citing its
exclusive-rights contract" for Patriots' home games,
according to Seifert, Zulgad & Youngblood of the Minneapolis
STAR TRIBUNE. As a result, the KFAN-produced Webcast was to
be broadcast "from an undisclosed location," with announcers
Paul Allen and Mike Morris "calling the action off" TV.
Attorneys representing WBCN said that the contract
"prohibits any audio from competing" with WBCN in New
England. Vikings Exec VP Mike Kelly: "We don't even see our
Internet broadcast as a threat to our own (WCCO-AM) radio
broadcast. So it's interesting that they would see our
(Internet) as a threat to their (radio)." The Vikings
"estimate that about 35 people in WBCN's market would listen
to the Webcast," therefore the Vikings "offered to black out
area codes across" New England and provide "pop-up notices
reminding listeners to tune in" to WBCN. But the Patriots
"would not consent unless the Vikings agreed to pay a
$50,0000 penalty if a Web user circumvented the blackout,"
but the Vikings "refused." WBCN and WCCO are owned by CBS-
Infinity, which has banned most Webcasting of NFL games (see
THE DAILY, 9/1) (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 9/16).
