Stern warning for 2010 non-rights broadcasters

“Accredited non-right holders (NRH) must expressly undertake to observe the terms and conditions stipulated by FIFA in the FIFA World Cup accreditation media guide,” Marcia Mahlalela, of FIFA TV, told a packed hall of local and international journalists at SAFA House in Johannesburg.

“Broadcasting or recording by NRH inside the stadium and surrounding areas where the match is played is strictly prohibited, and any non-right licensee holder caught in the act will have his or her accreditation revoked and will be escorted from the stadium,” Mahlalela said determinedly.

“However, while no access will be granted to the mixed zones, interview studios and press conferences rooms, the accredited NRH will be allowed to the press tribunes and observer seats on match days only on a first come, first served basis,” she pointed out.

Strict conditions

Accredited NRH will be granted observer seats subject to certain strict conditions, which include space availability - and the need to arrive at least 90 minutes before the start of the event - and not bring in broadcasting or recording equipment.

Furthermore, she said all NRH may contact the SABC - the media rights licensee - for footages of games and press conferences (on match day), but warned this does not entitle them to upgrade their accreditation status to that of a rights holder.

Many broadcasting journalists however complained that they had serious problems communicating with the SABC during the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, and demanded guarantees that the same frustrations will not happen again next year.

Mahlalela, however, assured journalists that FIFA and LOC have been working together with the SABC to ensure that the public broadcaster offers a better service during the World Cup.

Some observers also fear that the SABC might use the event as a tool to ‘punish', frustrate and sideline its competitors (radio and TV) in their attempts to cover the event and show them who is the boss.

Stringent conditions anger journalists

LOC spokesperson Rich Mkhondo said: “I want to emphasise something important here. Although we are taking all necessary measures to protect the interests of the media rights holders [SABC], we want to ensure that there is a free flow of information during the World Cup, and therefore we will not allow anyone to deny others that flow of information.”

Nevertheless, the stringent conditions imposed by FIFA during the World Cup had many broadcasting journalists fuming and moaning behind the scenes.

“This is too much. I have a feeling that they are trying to turn these stadiums into fortresses and in the process giving too many unfair advantages to the SABC,” one journalist told Bizcommunity.com on condition of anonymity for fear of being overlooked by FIFA during the accreditation process.

To apply for media accreditation, register at media.fifa.com and click on the link New User Registration.

Find out about 2010 media accreditation at OC workshops

The Organising Committee (OC) of the 2010 FIFA World Cup is reminding media to learn about how to obtain media accreditation through workshops at host cities, 6-23 October 2009. The first one, for Johannesburg and Tshwane, took place at SAFA House by Soccer City, Nasrec, Johannesburg, yesterday, Monday, 5 October 2009.

Venues and times are:

• Polokwane: Tuesday 6 Oct 2009 from 11.30am -1.30 pm at Nirvana Hall, corner Orient and Tagore Street, opposite Nirvana Library, Polokwane
  
• Mangaung: Thursday 8 Oct 2009 from 11.30am -1.30 pm at Indaba Auditorium Bram Fischer Building, corner Markgraff & Nelson Mandela Streets, Bloemfontein
  
• Rustenburg: Monday 12 Oct 2009 from 11.30am -1.30 pm at 7th Floor, Rustenburg Local Municipality, corner Beyers Naude & Nelson Mandela Drive, Rustenburg
  
• Nelson Mandela Bay / Port Elizabeth on Tuesday 20 Oct 2009 from 11.30am -1.30 pm at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
  
• Durban: Wednesday 21 Oct 2009 from 11.30am -1.30 pm - venue TBA
  
• Cape Town: Thursday 22 Oct 2009 from 11.30am -1.30 pm at The Crush Room, 5th Floor, Podium Block, Cape Town Civic Centre
  
• Nelspruit: Friday 23 Oct 2009 from 11.30am -1.30 pm at Nelspruit Civic Centre, Council Chambers, Nelspruit.

Please RSVP immediately to assist seating and catering arrangements to media-accreditation@2010saloc.com or email Sifiso Cele at or cell +27 (0)83 2010 338.