SEC Has Quick Reversal on Social Media Policy

By Steven Shaff, Assistant AD/Media Relations

If Northern Arizona senior running back Alex Henderson scores a touchdown at Ole Miss on Nov. 7, I plan on telling the world. The Rebels are a preseason Top 10 pick and sleeper for the National Championship. It will be big news for NAU fans across the country. But according the Southeastern Conference, they are trying to limit what is put out about games in their stadiums online on mediums like Facebook and Twitter. The policy has caused a stir to say the least.

According to the policy, “Ticketed fans can’t “produce or disseminate (or aid in producing or disseminating) any material or information about the Event, including, but not limited to, any account, description, picture, video, audio, reproduction or other information concerning the Event.”

The SEC has $3 billion reasons to protect their product. I understand that. But the initial interpretation has fans puzzled. One of the most popular uses of these mediums is the instant ability to post updates and pictures from sporting events.

SEC Commissioner Mike Slive is quoted in a release regarding the new policy. He says, “This revised policy reflects many of the concerns that we have heard. It is a balance between the media’s ability to cover our sporting events and the SEC’s ability to protect its digital rights and trademarks.”

The public outcry has forced the SEC to quickly back paddle regarding the policy.

SEC Associate Commissioner of Media Relations Charles Bloom was interviewed by The Buzz Manager Blog today and pushed a new message.

"I see social media as a way that our fans can be engaged and share the positive word of what goes on in our universities and our stadiums,” said Bloom. “We talk about the environment around our games and that it’s an experience, not just a football game and so I think if we have fans in our stands that tweet, and enter Facebook entries, and a take pictures and show everyone having a great time whether it’s tailgating or the scenery around stadium I think that’s a positive that we can use to get the word out about the atmosphere of our ball games."

The SEC is really trying to limit other people, primarily bloggers, from making money on them. They also want the only video and images from the events to come from their rights-paying customers like CBS and ESPN.

The fact that they thought they could limit fans from participating is almost silly. How would they ever monitor what the fans are doing in the stands? Could they prevent fans from bringing phones into the venues that attract crowds over 100,000 each Saturday? It would have been impossible.

So looks like Facebook and Twitter will continue to be allowed. Today they announced a revised policy. So get ready now by following NAU on Twitter and Facebook. The Ole Miss crowd might react with silence to a NAU touchdown, but there will be a tweet heard around the world if it happens.