CNN Puts No Restrictions On Debate Footage

By
( )
published

CNN's Wolf Blitzer told viewers on-air Monday that the network's presidential debate coverage would be available without restriction for other news outlets to excerpt, stream or otherwise use on-air and online.

The network had made the decision over the weekend after political activist groups, followed by candidates Barack Obama and John Edwards, asked that the footage be made available. CNN is teaming with Hearst-Argyle's WMUR-TV Manchester, N.H., on two debates, with Democrats squaring off June 3 and Republicans June 5.

MSNBC, by contrast, said last week that its debate footage would still be subject to various restrictions.

John Eggerton
John Eggerton

Contributing editor John Eggerton has been an editor and/or writer on media regulation, legislation and policy for over four decades, including covering the FCC, FTC, Congress, the major media trade associations, and the federal courts. In addition to Multichannel News and Broadcasting + Cable, his work has appeared in Radio World, TV Technology, TV Fax, This Week in Consumer Electronics, Variety and the Encyclopedia Britannica.