London 2012 - More "Bad press"

ecoli

Looks like BT will be getting their sponsorship covered (or atleast part of it) with a possible €1.5 million windfall

http://www.insidethegames.biz/olympics/summer-olympics/2012/14660-worlds-press-demand-free-internet-access-at-london-2012

Pretty ridiculous really as I can imagine that if it goes through the media will have a field day with this and could cause a barrage off bad publicity for both BT and London 2012

robinph

Don't think people would actually care about it tbh.

But it's the media being charged for something that they would rather not pay for, so they will make a big scandal about it however they can. The rest of us have to pay for our internet access, I'm sure if they were to be sticking wifi access points throughout the Olympic Park for the public to access then they would not be free to the general public.

The media just need to figure out an angle for how hard done by they are with this and that they have some kind of right to free internet.

ecoli

Oh I agree that it the media just looking for freebies my point was rather if their is friction between the media and the organizers every little bad thing about the Olympics between now and then will be blown up.

I agree most people will probably have to pay for internet access but €150 on average per month seems a bit like exploitation if you ask me especially when BT are one of the main sponsors just struck me as BT trying to recoup some of the money gone into sponsorship

robinph

€150 a month is probably a bit steep, but then it's not like they are actually taking out the service for more than two months anyway. Maybe three at most for the people that are covering Olympics/ Paralympics and the guys setting up before and after. I'd certainly expect the international media organisations to be having to pay for access to services whilst in London, just they seem to be suggesting that previously they got this kind of stuff for free.

Maybe the London 2012 is going for the Ryanair pricing model for the Olympics and rather than charging the different channels a flat fee, they are letting them pick and choose exactly which bit of the service they want to take. Do they all want to buy the HD coverage, do they all want internet access for all of their staff. Or is there only a few of them that actually "need" the superduper access for free. I'd be lost without net access, but does the guy behind the camera in the temporary studio at the games need to have access to a T1 connection to check his emails, and should that be provided for by the broadcaster he is working for?

Sprocket77

It's a very strange move by the organisers. Usually event organisers try as much as possible to keep the media on side and provide them with the best facilities possible. The better the relationship with the journalists and the happier they are in their surroundings, the more positive they are in their reporting of the event. This could end up backfiring on the London Games.