UK news publishers slam BBC’s ‘perverse’ footage blackout of King Charles’ coronation
UK NEWS publishers have slammed the BBC’s “perverse” blackout of footage of King Charles’ coronation.
The Beeb was blasted after it “restricted” other media companies’ access by charging an extortionate amount for clips of the King‘s big day.
The publishers said the move would stop the public from witnessing key moments of the historic day.
In a joint statement, the News Media Association, TalkTV, GB News and Local TV, called for the BBC to reconsider its decision for the good of “the British public”.
The publishers explained the Beeb was charging UK media an “excessive commercial fee”, but international media outlets don’t have to pay a penny for it.
The full statement read: “We are deeply concerned by the BBC’s behaviour in restricting UK media companies’ access to pool footage of the coronation of the King, and therefore denying UK citizens the
opportunity to enjoy this event of major public interest and national importance on the platform of their choice.
“Given the historic significance of the occasion, all efforts should have been made by the BBC to ensure that the footage – which is created using licence fee payer money – is distributed as widely as possible to allow UK citizens to witness this event, and the BBC has not fulfilled this obligation.
“The decision to charge UK media companies an excessive commercial fee (with no visibility of true costs) seems perverse when the BBC is allowing foreign publishers and broadcasters the same footage for free.
“These foreign broadcasters and publishers will be allowed to
stream or broadcast footage in the UK despite restrictions on UK media.
“The BBC (together with Sky and ITN) has repeatedly delayed and prevaricated on this issue since the death of Queen Elizabeth in September last year in an anti-competitive manner.
“The BBC must urgently reconsider their position and allow all members of the British public who want to watch the coronation the choice to access the event where they wish to do so.”