The Southeastern Conference has banned media outlets from posting football highlights of conference games online. This Fall, web users who want to view video footage of SEC football games can only do so by visiting one website: The SEC Digital Network. The SEC is currently creating the SEC Digital Network, which, once completed, will allow viewers to watch highlights for free. People who want to download video footage, however, will have to pay a fee. The Gainesville Sun (the daily newspaper in Gator-ville) has the scoop.
My Take
If Congress is really interested in possible antitrust violations associated with college football, it should investigate this development -- instead of the BCS bowl structure. The New York Times -- which owns the Gainesville Sun, has threatened to pursue legal remedies. Critics are already saying that the rule will harm independent and alternative media and that it seems unfair for schools that operate with public support to have such a policy. It should be interesting to see how this rule operates in the Youtube and blog communities.
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