Media Notes

FIFA Lifts Photo Restrictions For ’06 World Cup

FIFA and the World Association of Newspapers (WAN) reached an agreement to lift all restrictions on digital publication of photographs at the ’06 World Cup. FIFA had sought to limit the number of photographs that could be published on the Internet and require that they only be published two hours after games ended. WAN CEO Timothy Balding said in a statement, “In eliminating limits on the number of pictures that can be posted on Internet sites and in permitting their free publication during the course of World Cup matches, FIFA is upholding the traditional values of the free press and preserving the full, free flow of information to the media and their audiences” (FIFA).

WHEN IN VEGAS: Fox’ coverage of yesterday’s Nextel Cup’s UAW-DaimlerChrysler 400 in Las Vegas led with a discussion on the wager propositions on the race. Fox’ Darrell Waltrip: “I am fascinated by the things you can bet on out here. The obvious: laps led, lap leaders, cautions; but here’s a good one. The winning car number: odd or even. ... It goes on and on.” The broadcast then displayed the drivers’ odds to win the race from the Palms (Fox, 3/12).

NEXT GENERATION: Disney CEO Robert Iger on Friday at his first shareholder meeting in the position offered Mobile ESPN phones “at a 10% discount to the shareholders present” (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 3/13)....NFL VP/Media Strategy Brian Rolapp said that the league will offer NFL Films content online as “part of a major revamp for NFL.com.” Rolapp: “We expect sometime in the next season we will have a whole new Internet product.” Rolapp added that the NFL next season “will likely make video highlights of Sunday games available on its site during halftime of games in progress” (N.Y. POST, 3/12).