Saturday, August 22, 2009

Social Media Evil in the eyes of the SEC?

The SEC has decided to allow fans to use Twitter and Facebook during league games, which reverses an earlier decision. Fans still, however, cannot post game video on the internet. So I guess when LOHD use twitter this season as we enjoy our seats that we paid a seat fee and gamecock club dues for not to mention the price of a season ticket book for...well, I am glad the SEC will allow me to fully enjoy my seat for the price I paid for it.

Question --Does the SEC intend to sue every person who posts video of a game shot with cell phone camera?

Also here is the Exact Wording of the SEC's Revised Ticket Policy . Here is a summary:

"No Bearer may produce or disseminate in any form a "real-time" description or transmission of the Event (i) for commercial or business use, or (ii) in any manner that constitutes, or is intended to provide or is promoted or marketed as, a substitute for radio, television or video coverage of such Event. Personal messages and updates of scores or other brief descriptions of the competition throughout the Event are acceptable. If the SEC deems that a Bearer is producing a commercial or real-time description of the Event, the SEC reserves the right to pursue all available remedies against the Bearer. "Absent the prior written permission of the Southeastern Conference, game action videos of the Event may not be taken by Bearer. Photos of the Event may be taken by Bearer and distributed solely for personal use (and such photographs shall not be licensed, used, or sold commercially, or used for any commercial or business purpose)."
(h/t - Year 2 on http://www.teamspeedkills.com/ )

For the moment, these policies seem a lot more grounded in fear than reality. Sure, these days someone could theoretically live stream a game from their camera phone. But a shaky, low resolution video from the upper deck of Williams-Brice Stadium isn’t exactly the same as watching CBS's telecast on your big screen TV. Social media should be viewed a fantastic compliment to sports that is good for both fans and the TV networks.

I am sure the SEC will continue to mold these rules because technology will continue to evolve and their is no stopping social media. But at least the SEC saw the writing on the wall to make the changes now.

1 comment:

Gator said...

The policy is amped more towards the future and people being able to stream live video over the internet. That is definitely coming, just take a look at UStream. I really don't agree with the wording on the ticket policy though, especially with the part that buying the ticket basically only allows to enter and sit. With today's prices and every SEC member school holding their hand out, it's getting ridiculous.