The NHL doesn’t want fans or media using Meerkat or Periscope to live-stream hockey action before, during, and after games.
As noted by Yahoo Sports, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly penned a memo on Tuesday reiterating the league’s policy on streaming footage. Put simply, fans and reporters aren’t allowed to live-stream the action from inside an arena with a smartphone app like Meerkat or Periscope.
“As a reminder, NHL media credentials prohibit any ‘unauthorized use of any transmission, picture or other depiction or description of game action, game information, player interview or other arena activity . . . without prior written approval of’ NHL or the team as applicable,” the memo reads.
Earlier this month, we reported on the implications of Periscope and Meerkat in the sports industry, particularly with live-streaming game action. Much like the NHL, other leagues like the NBA, MLB, and NFL all pointed to their own policies that restrict both reporters and fans from live-streaming.
These bans really come down to two words: money and control.
For one, each league has lucrative, exclusive broadcast deals with cable giants and they surely don’t want people creating their own live streams as a way for viewers to circumvent what’s being shown on TV.
Then there’s the control. As Mashable notes, there’s a wealth of branding opportunities that come with apps like Meerkat and Periscope. For example, the NHL already has its own Periscope account with more than 20,000 followers.
