Local TV Cameras Banned from NFL Games

RTNA Members: This is an issue that the Board of Directors has been dealing with. We'll be discussing this at our September meeting; Thursday, September 7, 2006. All RTNA members are encouraged to attend and get involved.

NFL flags local TV cameras
New rule banning affiliates' game footage elicits protests
By Tim Tucker
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 08/06/06

The cameras of local television stations will be banned from NFL sidelines during games this season under a new league policy that has some Atlanta sportscasters fuming.

In the past, local stations have been allowed to shoot ground-level video during games for use on newscasts and highlight shows. But the 32 NFL owners unanimously voted earlier this year to ban local stations' cameras and crews from the sidelines during all games.

Under the new policy, local stations will have to get their game footage from the national network telecasts or from NFL Films or from pool cameras. Individual stations lose the ability to shoot footage during games for specific story angles.

Read the full story here.