2013 Bowl Championship Series Online Media Credentials System
Welcome to the online media credentials system for the 2013 Discover BCS National Championship Game, Allstate Sugar Bowl, Discover Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl Game presented by VIZIO and the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. The BCS has established this website so that you may apply for credentials to all five games through one website.
Media Credentialing Policies
To ensure that all qualified media agencies have the appropriate access, these policies have been developed by the 11 Football Bowl Subdivision commissioners, the Notre Dame athletics director and the BCS bowl games. The policies will be strictly enforced at the BCS National Championship Game. At the other BCS bowl games, the bowl media director may authorize additional credentials for all areas except the sidelines, if space allows.
Requests for all working media credentials for all Bowl Championship Series games shall be directed to the host media director. The deadline for applying is the second Friday after selection Sunday.
A "press agency" for purposes of these criteria shall mean a daily or weekly publication, cable system, radio or television station or network having a legitimate working function and requiring immediate news coverage. "Immediate news coverage" for purposes of these criteria shall mean that the editorial, audio and/or visual deadline for the bowl game action being documented occurs no later than six days after the competition at the site has been completed.
A press agency or television or radio station in the bowl's immediate geographic area that has staffed Division I college football games on a regular basis throughout the season and does not otherwise meet the criteria may be designated as a "minority media enterprise." A "minority media enterprise" shall mean a business enterprise involved in the dissemination of college football news on a weekly basis or more frequently to audiences from ethnically, socially or culturally diverse backgrounds. Such audiences include, but are not limited to, African Americans, non-English speaking Americans and Native-American Indians. Such minority media enterprises may receive one media credential if space is available.
Each application will stand on its merits for each particular bowl game. Membership in a writers or broadcasters association does not automatically qualify an agency or individual for credentials. Having been credentialed for other bowl games does not automatically qualify an agency or individual for credentials.
An individual holding a credential must adhere to the terms and conditions of the BCS credential and is subject to removal from the stadium for violating BCS credential policies.
Except for television camera operators, a credential may be issued only to an authorized full-time, salaried representative of, or a representative who regularly and customarily performs services for, the agency submitting the request. Credentials are not transferable.
Credential requests will be considered only if they are submitted by the sports editor, by the sports director/producer or by the photo editor.
The deadine for all credential requests is December 14, 2012 at 5 p.m. local time.
Subject to limitations of space and at the host media director's discretion, credentials at all sites shall be assigned in accordance with the following policies (please click on the link below that applies to your organization type to review those specific policies before continuing):
Print | Still Photographers | Photo Couriers, Editors & Technicians | Television Radio | Online Media | Int'l Media | Agencies Not Eligible
PRINT
Separate publications sharing common ownership may not be combined for purposes of meeting circulation or other criteria.
- A daily agency with circulation greater than 50,000, a weekly with circulation greater than 500,000 or a monthly with circulation greater than 750,000 will be identified as "national media" and will qualify for credentials. Press agencies may receive credentials according to the following circulation requirements:
Daily Circulation
50,000 - 99,999 - One Seat
100,000 - 199,999 - Two Seats
200,000 - 299,999 - Three Seats
300,000 - 499,999 - Four Seats
500,000 - 699,999 - Five Seats
700,000 and above - Six Seats
Weekly Circulation
500,000 - 3 million - Two Seats
3 million and above - Three Seats
Monthly Circulation
750,000 - 3 million - Two Seats
3 million and above - Three Seats
An agency that has covered all of a participating institution's regular-season games will be entitled to additional seats if space is available.
- An agency that does not meet Criterion No. 1 qualifies for credentials if a full-time staff member has covered all of the participating institution's regular-season games. Such an agency can receive one more than the number of credentials it used for a majority of the institution's regular-season games, plus additional seats if space is available.
A publication whose primary purpose is the coverage of college football and does not meet the criteria listed above may be eligible for one credential at the discretion of the host bowl's media director.
- The Associated Press and the primary newspaper(s) that provide daily coverage at the site of the bowl game may receive a maximum of eight seats.
- At the media director's discretion, a maximum of two credentials may be issued to reporters representing the non-sports side of the major newspaper that covers all regular-season games of the participating institution.
- At the media director's discretion, a maximum of two credentials may be issued to reporters representing the non-sports side of the major newspaper in the host city.
- Credentials may be issued to a maximum of three individuals certified by the director of athletics or designated representative of each participating institution, who will be the sole representatives of all media organizations affiliated with such institution (e.g. student newspaper, yearbook, alumni magazine) and all media organizations whose coverage primarily is directed at such institution and its activities.
STILL PHOTOGRAPHY
Sports editors or photo editors shall request all photography credentials. Most media agencies will be limited to a maximum of two credentials.
Subject to limitations of space, credentials for photo staff members shall be assigned to agencies requiring immediate news coverage in accordance with the following priorities:
Photographers
- A maximum of four photographers certified by the director of athletics or designated representative of each participating institution, who will be the sole representatives of all media organizations affiliated with any such institution (e.g., student newspaper, yearbook, alumni magazine) and all media organizations whose coverage primarily is directed at such institution and its activities.
- Each institution's athletics department may be represented by a maximum of three photographers.
- The primary press agencies at the host site of a Bowl Championship Series game that cover college football on a regular basis may receive a maximum of four credentials.
- The Associated Press may receive a maximum of 12 credentials for photographers. Sports Illustrated and USA Today each may receive a maximum of six credentials. Reuters, Getty, Icon, Cal Sports Media and US Presswire may receive a maximum of four credentials at the discretion of the host media director. The Sporting News and ESPN The Magazine may receive a maximum of three credentials.
- A press agency with a minimum daily circulation of 350,000, a weekly circulation of 500,000, or a monthly circulation of one million may receive one credential.
- A participating institution may receive a total of four credentials for media/photo agencies that do not meet the minimum daily or weekly circulation requirements. These agencies shall be certified by the director of athletics or designated representative of the participating institution to have staffed at least 80 percent of its games throughout the season.
- A publication whose primary purpose is the coverage of college football and does not meet the criteria listed above may be eligible for one credential at the discretion of the host media director.
- For access to the sidelines, photographers must wear vests provided by the bowl.
PHOTO COURIERS, EDITORS & TECHNICIANS
A media entity requiring credentials for immediate news coverage may be granted credentials for couriers, editors and/or technicians subject to the media coordinator's discretion.
TELEVISION
(See below for the definition of a crew.)
- A television station or regional cable network from the locale of a Bowl Championship Series game may be represented by a maximum of two crews.
- A television station from the locale of the participating institution, which has staffed all of its regular-season games, may be represented by a maximum of two crews.
- A regional cable network from the locale of the participating institution, which has staffed all of its regular-season games, or a conference's television network (e.g., Big Ten Network; "The Mountain") may be entitled to be represented by a maximum of two crews, plus a third crew may be issued limited-access credentials at the discretion of the host media director.
- A regional cable network that airs a nightly sports show and covers all of a team's games during the regular season may be represented by one crew.
- Each division (i.e., the sports, news, entertainment and affiliate divisions) from a national television network or cable system that originates a daily sports news program (e.g., Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC, ESPN, CNN) may be represented by one crew. The NFL Network may be represented by one crew.
- A television station in a market area estimated to have a minimum of one million U.S. television households the previous year by the A.C. Nielsen Company may be represented by one crew.
- At the discretion of the host media director, no more than two credentials may be authorized to other news services that have news and sports programming.
- Each participating institution may be represented by a maximum of one crew for a "coach's show."
A crew is defined as no more than four individuals, including one camera operator.
RADIO
- A maximum of two credentials (one media and one limited access) may be assigned to a radio station in a market area representing at least one million radio homes that regularly covers college football games and has a daily "sports talk" program.
- Two credentials may be assigned to a radio station in the geographic area of the bowl city that regularly covers college football games (i.e., full-time staff members attend games and file reports) and airs six or more sports reports each day.
- Two credentials may be assigned to a radio station in the geographic area of a participating team that covers college football games (i.e., full-time staff members attend games and file reports) at least 90 percent of a participating institution's home games and airs six or more sports reports each day.
- One media credential may be assigned to each of the following radio entities: American Forces Radio, ABC, AP, CBS, CNN Radio, Echlin Sports Service, ESPN Radio, Fox Sports Radio, NBC, National Public Radio, Sirius/XM, Sporting News Radio, Sports Byline USA, USA Radio Network, Voice of America and Westwood One.
- A radio network that will originate a live play-by-play broadcast is entitled to the number of individuals it used to originate games during the most recently completed regular season. Entities that produce national radio broadcasts under rights assigned through the national television rightsholder shall be limited to a maximum of eight credentials.
ONLINE MEDIA
- A maximum of two credentials may be issued to the BCS website.
- Credential(s) may be issued to an online agency that (1) registers at least one million unique users per month in each of the 12 months before the game and (2) covers college football daily.
- The official website of a competing institution, as designated by the school's sports information director, may receive a maximum of two credentials in addition to the institution's credentials noted elsewhere in this policy.
- The official website of a competing conference, as designated by the conference's sports information director, may receive a maximum of two credentials in addition to the conference's credentials noted elsewhere in this policy.
- A print, radio or television agency will not receive more credentials than the number provided for elsewhere in this document. An agency may allot one (or more) of its credentials to its online entity.
- If space is available, an online entity that does not meet the other criteria herein may qualify for credentials if a full-time staff member has covered all of the participating institution's regular-season games. Such credential may be issued only to a full-time staff member.
- An online entity may receive a credential only if its own full-time staff members write an overwhelming percentage of that site's material.
- Online entities will not receive during-game field access.
- An online service that is recognized as an outlet intended primarily for the purpose of delivering news related to the recruitment of student-athletes does not qualify for credentials.
AGENCIES NOT ELIGIBLE
Credentials shall not be issued to the following:
- Persons solely for the purpose of writing or gathering material for books;
- Representatives of syndicated television or cable programmers who are not producing programs for immediate news coverage (i.e., to air within 24 hours);
- Telephone reporting services;
- Entities normally identified as "tout sheets," and other publications devoted solely to gambling;
- Scouts from professional teams; (Instead, the bowls will offer to sell tickets to the professional league office if requested and if tickets are available, with the understanding that the professional league will distribute the tickets to the teams as it wishes.)
- Agencies that normally provide specific services for a media agency (e.g., scores) if many of its clients have been accredited to staff the event.
- Online entities not specifically referenced herein.
Terms and Conditions for Use of Credentials - BCS Bowl Games
Each individual or entity signing for or using a credential for access to the bowl game, news conferences, practices or other game related activities (collectively, the "Events"), and his/her/its employers (each signer, user and employer, a "Bearer"), agrees to the following conditions:
General
Each Bearer attending one of the Events using a credential represents that such Bearer is acting on a specific assignment for an accredited agency. Bearer is a full-time salaried employee of the accredited agency and has a legitimate working function in connection with the Events. The credential is not transferable and may be revoked at any time without cause. Any unauthorized use of the credential or violation of the policies set forth herein subject Bearer and/or the accredited agency to ejection from the Event, revocation of the credential, denial of access to future Events, prosecution for civil or criminal trespass and any other remedies available under the law.
While within the venue, Bearer shall, at all times, be subject to the direction and/or supervision of the BCS and its designated agents.
Bearer assumes all risks incidental to the performance by the Bearer of Bearer's services in connection with the Events and assumes all risks incidental to the Events, whether occurring before, during or after the actual playing of the Events, and agrees that the BCS, bowl, the Division I-A conferences and University of Notre Dame (the "BCS Managers"), their member institutions, and their respective employees, directors, officers, student-athletes, coaches, and contractors shall not be liable for injuries or loss of personal property or equipment resulting in such causes.
In the event that the name or likeness of any individual using the credential is included in any broadcast, telecast, photograph, film, video or other media taken in connection with the Events, such individual grants the bowl game and the BCS Managers the non-exclusive, transferable, perpetual right and license to use (and to sub-license the use of) such name and likeness in any media worldwide whether now known or thereafter devised.
Bearer agrees to indemnify the bowl game and the BCS conferences and institutions and hold harmless the bowl game and the BCS conferences and institutions, their officers, agents, contractors, employees, and each of its member institutions, their officers, agents and employees, of and from any and all claims, demands and causes of action arising out of anything done or purported to have been done by Bearer or his/her employer, including but not limited to Bearer's breach of any term of the credential. With respect to any claim that might give rise to liability of the Bearer as an indemnitor, the bowl and the BCS conferences and institutions shall: (a) have the right to fully participate in the litigation of such claim with counsel selected by Bearer and approved by the bowl and the BCS Managers at the sole expense of the Bearer; and (b) not be obligated, without their consent, to participate in any settlement of such claim.
Media
The use, distribution, exhibition, reproduction, adaptation, display, performance or publication of any accounts, descriptions, pictures, photographs, video or audio recordings, reproductions of, or other information concerning the Events (the "Event Information") for purposes other than for news coverage of the Events, or for First Amendment-protected purposes, is prohibited, except (a) with the prior written consent of the bowl game or the BCS Managers or (b) as specifically licensed herein. Nothing in these terms and conditions authorizes or allows Bearer to violate any of the bowl game or BCS trademarks, copyright and any other proprietary rights.
The accredited agency agrees that any videos may be used only in connection with a regularly scheduled television newscast within a seven (7) day period after the game and the film clip or video portion of each such showing shall not exceed three (3) minutes in length. The accredited agency may not air highlights of any game until the live telecast of the game by the rightsholding television network has concluded.
Television stations, networks, cable systems, participating institutions or their designees, are prohibited from making available game film or video to any other organization without advance written permission from the bowl game, even though the planned use may be editorial in nature. Such film or video may be aired only by the specific station or entity to whom the credential is issued. These rights may not be assigned, transferred or otherwise disposed to any person, firm, corporation or any other entity. Any agency wishing to use bowl game film or video in any other manner must obtain written permission for such usage from the bowl game or the rightsholding television network.
Real-time transmission of streaming video, digital images, real-time audio, including play-by-play and statistics, of any game is exclusive to the rightsholding television network. "Real-time" is defined as "live, continuous play-by-play or description of an event." The foregoing limitation shall not preclude the on-time transmission or display of up to ten (10) still pictures or photos of any Event during its progress as referenced in the BCS Internet Real-Time Policy, the terms of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Bearer and accredited agency acknowledge that the bowl game, the rightsholding television network and the BCS conferences and institutions are the exclusive owners of all copyrights, trademarks and other proprietary rights to the respective names, mascots, logos and uniform designs and to the Events, except with respect to materials created by the bearer or accredited agency pursuant to the credential. The member institution name and team name may only be used for news purposes. All trademark rights in the names, logos and uniform designs are retained by the respective conferences and institutions.
The credential confers on Bearer a limited, non-exclusive and non-transferable license to take photographs of the Events, and to allow the entity that engaged the Bearer to take the photographs to use such photographs, only for news coverage about the Events, other editorial purposes, and reprints of news pages from such entity's publications, provided that such use is not likely to create, or does not actually create confusion in the minds of the trade or public that Bearer or its reprints or any elements therein, or the items on which they are reprinted, are sponsored or endorsed by, or are associated or affiliated with the bowl game or that the bowl game or the BCS conferences and institutions licensed Bearer to use their respective trademarks or copyrights.
In exchange for the access granted by the credential, the bowl game and BCS conferences and institutions shall have the right to purchase prints of any published photographs taken by the Bearer in connection with the credential, at the best financial terms offered to third parties, and such bowl game and the BCS conferences and institutions shall be licensed at no additional charge to use the photographs for news coverage purposes only. The bowl game and the BCS conferences and institutions may not distribute reproductions of the photographs to others or license others to reproduce the photographs.
Bearer shall obtain all necessary licenses, consents or releases permitting the use of any party's proprietary material, including, but not limited to any party's copyrights, trademarks, rights of publicity, rights of privacy or other proprietary of personal rights, however denominated included in any photograph taken or other material obtained in connection with the credential. The Bearer is solely responsible for determining which licenses, consents and releases shall be obtained. Bearer agrees to indemnify the bowl game and the BCS Managers and hold harmless the bowl game and the BCS conferences and institutions, their officers, agents, contractors, employees from and against any and all liability loss, damage or expense (including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses) arising out of or relating to: (a) the issuance of the credential, Bearer's presence at the Events, or any other activity of the accredited agency or Bearer in connection with the Events, including without limitation, any claims that the Event Information taken or complied by Bearer infringe the intellectual property rights, publicity rights or other rights of any third party's copyrights, trademarks, rights of publicity, rights of privacy, or other proprietary of personal rights, however denominated; and (b) the presence on the premises of any cameras, wires, cable or other equipment brought thereon by Bearer.
Any secondary use of any picture, audio description, videotape/film or drawing of the game taken or made by the agency or the Bearer (including, but not limited to, use in delayed editorial or non-editorial, advertising, sales promotion or merchandising) is prohibited without prior specific written approval of the bowl game or the BCS conferences and institutions.
Radio stations that have not purchased rights shall not carry any broadcast report from the stadium on a live basis or any live description of any game action while it is still in progress. Radio stations may report on the Event(s) within a newscast and are not precluded from reporting or updating the score of the game while it is in progress, except from the stadium. Bearer also may not blog live play by play reports from the stadium while the game is in progress but may blog other gathered information pursuant to the BCS Internet Real-Time Policy, the terms of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Bearer further agrees to release the bowl game and all persons and educational institutions involved in the management or production of the competition from any claim or liability arising from failure to provide space for telecasting/broadcasting, or other facilities for the television/radio station, Internet media, network or cable system.
Real-Time Internet
Acceptance and use of a Bowl Championship Series ("BCS") media credential constitutes an agreement by the bearer to abide by the following terms and conditions:
Subject to the following limitations and conditions, the BCS bowls grant accredited media organizations the limited license to use certain gathered information on the media organization's website only, beginning at the start of the BCS bowl game and continuing until the conclusion of the BCS bowl game.
- No more than ten (10) photographs may be used for news and editorial coverage of a BCS bowl game. Any use of such photographs must be time-delayed, i.e., no sooner than at least five (5) minutes after the happening of the event depicted in the photograph. The photographs must not be available for downloading.
- Video tape of game action may be used on a website after the game has concluded. No more than three minutes of such video may be used, and the video may be posted only in the 72 hours after the conclusion of the game. The video must not be available for downloading.
- Except for those originated by the rightsholders, live text, audio or video play-by-play accounts originating from the stadium are prohibited.
- Score updates are permitted.
- The use of textual statistical information must be time-delayed and limited in amount (e.g., the score, injuries, record-breaking performances, scoring summaries at the end quarters, a condensed halftime story) so that an organization's game coverage on the Internet does not conflict with the electronic media rightsholder's rights to play-by-play accounts of the game and/or exclusivity as to such rights.
- Should any of these conditions be breached, the media organization may not be credentialed for future games.
Mini-Cams/Use of Footage
(Policies apply to games for which ESPN has acquired rights through its agreement with the BCS group; check with the Rose Bowl Game management regarding the Rose Bowl game and 2014 BCS National Championship Game.)
- The rightsholding television network is the only television entity that may transmit live from inside the stadium on game day from approximately 45 minutes before kickoff until after the network has concluded its coverage from the site.
- Beginning 45 minutes before the scheduled time of kickoff and ending upon completion of the game, no ENG, videotape or film crew shall be granted access to the stadium for live transmission.
The bowl shall have the option to permit ENG, videotape or film crews to film or videotape a game other than for live distribution, provided that no video or audio portions of the game may be used for any purpose other than (i) up to three minutes of footage for television news highlights purposes during the 72 hours after the game or (ii) a local or regional coach's television show after the game that is part of a regularly broadcast series of shows featuring the institution's coach and regularly includes film highlights of the institution's team's games during the regular season. The foregoing is subject to ESPN production personnel at all times having priority with respect to access, position and location (e.g., camera positions).
If the bowl precludes videotaping from the sidelines, the media coordinator will identify an area off the field for all non-originating television representatives to wait until they are notified that they may enter the playing field.
- Locker rooms are open for postgame coverage.
- Videotaped, filmed or audio excerpts of a BCS Bowl game for which ESPN has acquired rights may be used for news purposes only in regularly scheduled news programs or on a website during a window beginning at the conclusion of the game and ending 72 hours after the conclusion of the game. A maximum of three minutes of such excerpts may be used. The graphic "Courtesy ESPN" must accompany all highlights. A "news broadcast" shall be a regularly scheduled program devoted exclusively to general news and/or sports news. Sports entertainment programs do not qualify under this provision.
- Highlights may not be sold, traded, loaned or given away to any other entity and may not be used commercially for on-air promotion or in any other manner not specifically set forth in these policies without prior written permission from ESPN and the BCS group. By way of illustration, but not limitation, without a specific separate license from ESPN and the BCS group, championship game footage may not be used (i) in pregame shows, (ii) in weekly sports highlights shows, (iii) in commercials, (iv) in a "sponsored segment" of a program, (v) in "on-air" promotions (e.g., "tune-in" promotion or "tease"), (vi) as "file footage," or (vii) for any other use (e.g., archival) not specifically permitted by these policies.
- Telecasters may broadcast live or delayed feeds or excerpts of news conferences.
- After the aforementioned 72-hour window, highlights from BCS bowl game telecasts may only be used by a telecaster if such telecaster leases the rights to the footage from the BCS group.
- In consideration for access to video and/or record audio excerpts of a BCS bowl game, the television entity agrees, upon the request of the bowl or the BCS group, to supply the bowl or the BCS group with a videotape or audio recording (as may be the case) of any program incorporating highlights and hereby consents to the use of excerpts from such a program by the bowl or the BCS group.
- The BCS group shall have the authority to withdraw permission for the use of highlights by appropriate notice at any time and for any reason.
- Distribution of highlights on the Internet or via any other digital means is subject to these guidelines and the BCS "Real-Time Internet Policy."
- The institutions participating in the Bowl Games and BCS National Championship Games may film such games and use such footage in or for: (i) bona fide coaches' shows and conference highlight shows, provided that such coaches' shows and conference highlight shows (a) are part of a series of shows that appear no less frequently than weekly during the college football regular season, (b) normally show footage from regular-season games of an institution or the members of a conference, and (c) appear only on the stations or outlets that carry such coaches' or conference highlight shows no less frequently than weekly during the college football regular season; and (ii) coaching, instructional, and other non-commercial purposes.
- The institution and its conference, if any, may use up to three (3) minutes of footage from ESPN's broadcast (absent commentary) of the game in which such institution participated, for a highlight DVD covering the entire season, provided that the materials shall not otherwise be reproduced, licensed, sold or otherwise used in connection with any commercial purpose.
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