The administration of Francois Hollande has handed two French broadcast networks exclusive rights to the main international ceremony, and they are now imposing sports-style syndication fees on global news agencies, satellite and cable news channels, and online news outlets.
The French host broadcasters, France Televisions and TF1, are demanding that global news providers AP, AFP, Reuters and ENEX pay nearly 200,000 euros ($265,000) collectively for live broadcast and online streaming coverage of the official ceremonies, which feature at least 18 heads of state.
The French networks are providing coverage free to European state broadcasters, who belong to the 100-member European Broadcasting Union consortium.
AP, Reuters, AFP and ENEX together represent over 1,500 broadcasters and thousands of digital platforms.
The four agencies have protested the decision, calling for all news organizations to be granted free access to live coverage of an event of global importance, as has been common practice at similar events elsewhere.
"We are dismayed that the Elysee Palace is denying The Associated Press and other international news agencies fair access to live broadcast coverage of D-Day commemorations, which will be attended by world leaders and hundreds of veterans," said Kathleen Carroll, senior vice president and executive editor of AP.
"By granting access to only a few select channels and charging prohibitive sums, millions of viewers around the world will be unable to witness this historic, global event, the solemnity of which will reflect the commitment of an international array of forces 70 years ago," Carroll said. "We believe the Elysee and its French broadcast partners should allow free and unrestricted access to all newsgathering organizations."
The global news director of Agence France-Presse, Philippe Massonnet, called the restrictions "incomprehensible."
"The commercialization of this historic event is shocking," he said. "We hope that the presidency of the French republic will allow agencies the right to film and distribute the event live under conditions that are acceptable and in conformity with the spirit of freedom that these ceremonies represent."
The Elysee reversed itself May 15 despite having provided the agencies with verbal assurances on March 27 and written assurances on May 7 that they would be granted access to the broadcast to distribute free of charge to affiliated news organizations outside France.
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