TV charges papers for coverage

BRITISH broadcasters are locked in a fierce stand-off with newspapers over the rights to live coverage of the Coronation.

The BBC, which is producing the bulk of the live feed for Saturday’s spectacular, together with ITV and Sky, are trying to impose huge fees for newspaper websites to live stream or use footage.

Yet newspapers argue the charges are a penalty aimed at UK news outlets because foreign newspapers and broadcasters can access the footage through pre-existing arrangements.

They point out a precedent was set during the funeral of Queen Elizabeth when fees were waived.

Newspapers via the UK’S News Media Association wanted to strike

‘Public should have unfettered access’

a deal to use the BBC’S feed but broadcasters had resisted.

It was only after the Royal Household gave a clear, unequivocal direction to the broadcasters to give access for free that their position shifted.

Now newspapers have called for the same access for the first “Coronation in the majority of people’s living memory”.

A source said: “The BBC recognises this is an event of major public interest – the nation should have unfettered access to it.the BBC has waived the licence fee for a day.this suggests the BBC knows there are people it will not reach with coverage, but it isn’t a serious move to address the problem.”

The way people watch news has changed in the past decade with newspapers and radio stations having online news sites, where they can offer real-time action and analysis online.

News Media Association declined to comment.