ESPN Reportedly Trying To Block Content From CSTV

N.Y. Post Report Claims ESPN Tried To Block Footage

Both ESPN and Collegiate Images are responding to a story from today’s N.Y. POST, in which Tim Arango cited sources as saying that ESPN “has taken a series of steps -– some out in the open and others behind-the-scenes -– to undermine CSTV.” Letters from ESPN VP/Business Affairs James Noel indicated that ESPN has been trying to prevent Collegiate Images “from providing content to CSTV.” ESPN claimed that its exclusivity rights to “many of the college conferences prevent even clips not produced by ESPN — such as footage the school itself produces –- from being licensed, a position that Collegiate Images has been fighting against.” Sources said that ESPN is “warehousing,” or “securing rights to games not with the intention of airing them but in an attempt to keep them off” other nets. Arango writes the U.S. Justice Department has been investigating ESPN for alleged warehousing, and a source said that the letters regarding Collegiate Images “have been turned over to the Justice Department.” Other sources note ESPN also “bickered over the size of its logo on a joint press release between ESPN, CSTV and Conference USA” released in January. Arango writes ESPN earlier this year “began barring CSTV’s on-air talent from appearing” on ESPN2’s “Cold Pizza” (N.Y. POST, 5/4).

RESPONSES: ESPN VP/Communications Mike Soltys told The Daily, “The story is full of misleading allegations. For example, our letter to Collegiate Images was intended to protect footage usage rights in the same fashion in which we deal with the entire industry, and on the same basis as we respect the rights of others. It was directed at them and not any third party.” Meanwhile, Collegiate Images President Mark Geddis issued a statement to The Daily this morning, saying, “Both ESPN and CSTV are valued clients of Collegiate Images, as well as our many university partners that also own copyrighted video material. We hope that ESPN and CSTV can work out their differences on this issue. We have in the past and we will continue to observe and respect the property rights of the many varied copyright owners in the college market, including ESPN, CSTV, universities and athletic conferences” (THE DAILY).