MUMBAI: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has affirmed that it will not go back on its decision of not allowing photo syndication agencies to cover the on-going India-England series.

The BCCI defended its decision of not granting accreditation by contending that the primary businesses of photo syndication agencies involved the commercial sale and licensing of images rather than the supply of images to news publications for editorial purposes.

The cricket board had refused to grant accreditation to photo syndication agencies like Getty Images to cover the series which drew criticism from the international media with news agencies like AFP, AP and Reuters boycotting the series.

"The BCCI stands by its decision, which is based on the legitimate interest of prioritising and limiting stadium access to those persons and entities primarily involved in news reporting activities and, thereby, promoting the public interest in consuming news and editorial comment from diverse sources," BCCI secretary Sanjay Jagdale said in a statement.

"Certain other international and domestic applicants did not meet the BCCI?s accreditation standards on the basis that, in the BCCI?s good faith opinion after due evaluation, their primary businesses involved the commercial sale and licensing of images rather than the supply of images to news publications for bona fide editorial purposes. These applications were duly rejected and the BCCI?s decision was communicated to the applicants," the statement added.

The BCCI provided accreditation to many international news publications and news agencies to cover the series and provide unlimited number of match images for editorial use by their respective publications and agency clients worldwide.

With the BCCI standing firm on its decision, it needs to be seen whether the international news agencies will call off their boycott.

The BCCI also clarified that it has not placed any restrictions on the number, nature or type of images that can be captured or published by accredited photo journalists from bona fide publications and news agencies.

These accredited persons were presented the opportunity by the BCCI to supply an unlimited number of match images for editorial use by their respective publications and agency clients worldwide.

The BCCI has decided to supply a limited number of images to accredited media outlets due to the boycott by agencies.

"This was neither the intended nor desired approach of the BCCI for the series but is a facility made available to all bona fide media outlets given the decision by accredited news agencies to not undertake coverage," the statement clarified.

The Britain?s Society of Editors executive director Bob Satchwell had said that the BCCI?s decision will damage the ability of the press to cover cricket. He also termed BCCI?s decision to provide in-house photography as a dangerous precedent.

The BCCI denied allegations of censorship against it and termed the allegations of media censorship grossly misrepresenting the facts.

"The BCCI does not, and has no intention to, censor or limit bona fide news reporting. Any attempt by third parties to portray the BCCI?s legitimate decision, as described above, as media censorship grossly misrepresents the facts," the BCCI affirmed.

MUMBAI: The international news agencies have suspended coverage of the on-going India-England Test series following the BCCI?s decision to bar photo agencies like Getty Images and Action Images from covering the bi-lateral series.

Leading news agencies Agence-France Presse, Reuters and the Associated Press along with English media organisations like Daily Telegraph and the Press Association have protested the BCCI?s decision to bar photo agencies fearing that the move will set dangerous precedent.

At the heart of the dispute is the BCCI?s decision to make a limited number of its own images available during the series.

"AFP deeply regrets the suspension of coverage of this important Test series as cricket fans will be deprived of stories and photos of the game they love," AFP?s
global news director Philippe Massonnet said in a statement.

"Unfortunately, the BCCI has chosen to substitute objective editorial coverage with in-house photography, a dangerous principle that AFP, like other international news agencies, simply cannot accept."

The decision will hamper the international coverage of the four-match Test series with most of the news agencies boycotting it.

Britain?s Society of Editors executive director Bob Satchwell said the BCCI?s decision will damage the ability of the press to cover the series. "Editors will be angered by this decision of the BCCI and confused by the motives. They just want to do the best job they can for their cricket-loving readers by choosing from the best news material. By damaging the ability of the press to cover cricket, the good name of the game also risks damage."

The BCCI has defended its decision by saying that it has a policy of not allowing photo syndication agencies.

"The BCCI has a policy not to accredit photo syndication services like Getty Images and other similar foreign and domestic agencies," BCCI media manager Devendra Prabhudesai has been quoted as saying by AFP. "We have no such problems with AFP, AP or Reuters since their text and photo service is for editorial use only. We have already explained our stand to the News Media Coalition."

Meanwhile, the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) and the World Editors Forum have also joined the protest against the BCCI.

"It is simply unacceptable for the Board of Cricket Control for India (BCCI) to take it upon themselves to refuse accreditation to legitimate news agencies, and to tear down the traditional role that independent news media plays in bringing sport news to the public," said WAN-IFRA President and Executive Editor and Publisher of the Malayala Manorama Group of Publications (Kerala) Jacob Mathew.

"Photos are an integral part of news coverage. Because of this unfortunate decision, photographic coverage will be disrupted and cricket fans are being deprived of their right to choose their news sources. These restrictions are a serious challenge to media freedom."

Earlier, the BCCI was embroiled in a dispute with British satellite broadcaster Sky Sports for demanding an additional fees of $800,000 for setting up their commentary team at the grounds.

Similarly, the BCCI had demanded an extra 50,000 pound to cover radio production costs at the four Tests in Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Nagpur and Kolkata. After initially resisting the BCCI?s demand, BBC Radio settled the dispute by deciding to cover the Test match.