There’s an official way to judge the popularity of an app by how much people use the app and there’s an unofficial way: getting banned by sports teams.
That’s exactly what the National Hockey League did last night but it only applies to media journalists covering the game and not ticket buyers in the seats.
The memo via Sports Illustrated:
We have been advised that certain individuals attending NHL games pursuant to credentialed access are streaming live footage from inside NHL arenas before, during and after NHL games using technology offered by companies such as Periscope and Meerkat. 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.
Without limiting the generality of the credential language, any streaming of footage in violation of the NHL’s Broadcast Guidelines (including, for example, live streaming inside the arena less than 30 minutes before the start of the game) and Media Access Policy is expressly prohibited.
We don’t know what event caused the NHL to remind media members of rules regarding what you can and can’t do in the press box but Greg Wyshynski of Yahoo! Sports may have witness the alleged incident before the start of Game 1 between New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins.
Via Puck Daddy blog:
Some of the other people in the press box that were Periscoping the pregame skate or postgame comments? That seemed a little more dicey, given the NHL’s rules about shooting video at events where big media companies held the broadcast rights.
A Couple of things to note: The NHL just signed a 12-year $5.2 billion contract with Canadian provider Rogers Communications. The NHL has a 10-year deal with NBC for $2 billion. With $7 billion, the NHL will protect their broadcast partners, even if they don’t show pregame warm-ups.
More importantly, Wyshynski puts it more bluntly:
The real driving force behind this? Well, put it this way: As I write this, Mike Babcock of the Detroit Red Wings is speaking through the NHL’s official Periscope channel. You do the math.