Considering competition has begun today, the impact of the Olympic News Access Rules will begin to be evident. Aside from Seven, other networks have to obey the 3x3x3 rule when it comes to showing Olympic content.
The rule restricts non-rightsholder networks to showing Olympic content 3 times a day during news programs for up to 3 minutes (highlights of individual events can’t exceed 1/3 of the event or 30 seconds, whichever is lesser) and the 3 programs must each be 3 hours apart. Meanwhile, news channels can show Olympic content 6 times a day for up to 90 seconds each time. Considering they fall under both rules, the ABC is allowed to decide whether they’ll obey by either the 3x3x3 or 6x1 1/2 restriction.
Regardless of the rule they come under, non-rightsholders can only show content which has aired on one of Seven’s channels. If they want to show other content which hasn’t aired on Seven, they have to wait until midnight the next day.
You would think all three commercial FTA networks (as well as any other services which exist around that time) would be interested in securing the rights.
Mel and Jason touched on Brisbane’s successful bid during the soccer coverage tonight.
Why does Australian rights holders keep producing these copyright notices for their Olympics coverage, even though no other international broadcaster does it? Is that an IOC requirement?
Once again, the IOC/OBS graphics are fine (legible, clean etc). But they always feel about two cycles too late. Graphics like these would have been fine for the 2012-14 Olympic era, now they feel dated.
