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CBS Nixes Rihanna Opening From "TNF," But Roc Nation Claims It Revoked License

After a series of Twitter posts from singer Rihanna "criticizing CBS for dropping her song from last week’s premiere of 'Thursday Night Football,' the network has decided to remove the song from its telecasts for the remainder of this season," according to Bill Carter of the N.Y. TIMES. CBS yesterday issued a statement saying that it was "moving in a different direction." CBS last week "dropped the celebratory opening for its new package of NFL games in favor of pregame coverage" of the Ray Rice scandal, along with "commentary about domestic violence." Included in the original opening was "backing music from a rendition of 'Run This Town,' a song by Jay Z, featuring Kanye West and Rihanna." Two CBS spokespersons said that the net "decided to replace the song with 'newly created ‘Thursday Night Football’ theme music." The music will be "created in-house and will be used for the remainder of this season." CBS said that the "rest of the opening, which includes an appearance by the actor Don Cheadle, will run as planned" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/17). However, Roc Nation yesterday in a statement said the agency "revoked the song license" from CBS. The agency in the statement said, "Due to the misuse and misrepresentation of Rihanna's name and participation in connection to CBS' 'Thursday Night Football,' CBS was not allowed to license and utilize the song" (WSJ.com, 9/16).

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