NewsCorp hints at RWC boycott

17 June 2011 - 03:45 By Times LIVE
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One of the world's biggest news organisations is threatening to boycott the Rugby World Cup.

Media tycoon Rupert Murdoch's NewsCorp has refused to agree to accreditation terms because of restrictions on website coverage.

The Australian, Murdoch's flagship newspaper, said the company would report on matches from outside game venues - a move that it said would be a blow to sponsors.

News Ltd, which is part of NewsCorp, publishes The Australian, a national newspaper, Sydney's Daily Telegraph, Melbourne's HeraldSun and Brisbane's Courier Mail.

News Ltd group editorial director Campbell Reid said agreeing to the terms set by the IRB could set a dangerous precedent that could damage newspapers' ability to report on sports events.

The communications manager of Rugby World Cup 2011, Mike Jaspers, said 2500 media representatives had agreed to the accreditation terms.

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