The Legal Edge

Oprah -- Apparantly reacting to a request for credit

Over the last week TLE has been fortunate enough to get some mainstream media attention appearing on the CBS Early Show, CNN  and Extra to talk about the O.J. Simpson verdict and our exclusive interview. We were more than happy to help out. That is, until we ran into Oprah.

Here’s what happened. An Oprah underling calls to say they would like to use our O.J. interview on their Friday “Live” topical program. I said “sure,” prepared the material and shipped it off. I then wrote to the Oprah legal department to confirm we would be getting the proper on screen credit for the material we were providing for free to the daytime Queen. A very standard, accepted practice in the biz. Here’s the reply:

              “Unfortunately, we can’t give .com credit. (It’s our standing policy not to provide any web addresses in our credits.)

Hmmm. Let’s see. We provide you with exclusive material you will effectively use as your own, because nobody reads the end credits on your show or any anybody else’s, and you won’t actually credit us since we are a dot com entity. Hey, who wouldn’t rush to make that deal? Are you kidding me?

I sent Oprah legal a nice note suggesting our TLE policy  was not to give away exclusive material without proper attribution. I also asked,

“What’s the harm in identifying the media outlet, even if it’s a dot com? And BTW, dot com media outlets are no different than ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNCB, FOX or any other local or national outlet. Oh, right. In this case there is a difference because although the big guys all tried to get the interview only up and coming TLE made it happen.”

A day later I got the shocking news that the Oprah show “was going a different direction.” That’s corporate weasle speak for “You got us. We were going to use your interview as our own and bury your credit so you received absolutely no value in return.”  (The October 10, 2008 program did include a segment on the O.J. Simpson verdict.)

I’m not sure what is more pathetic; the corporate Oprah machine that makes a practice of steam-rolling folks into submission so she can fill her show with the work product of others…or the likelihood that waaay too many people actually cave in to this bullying boloney so they can say, “We were on Oprah.”

Oprah, isn’t having all  the money enough?

MJB

You love him, you hate him, you laugh at him. Whatever your reaction, Thomas Riccio delivered some powerful information in court this week. For years the alphabet networks and cable kings have pretended that they don’t pay for interviews. They do. The morning shows are the worst. The battle between GMA, Today and The Early Show are vicious. The entertainment shows are close behind. If they want the person de jour to come on a show they ask if there are any photos, or audio or video tape that can be licensed. 

This is all a fiction created so that these “journalistic” pillars can claim they don’t pay for interviews. I’ve worked on plenty of national shows and have associated with insiders from every network on the planet. The money is for the interview no matter how high and mighty these network and syndicated show weanies may get.

I’m not a big Harvey Levin or TMZ fan. Just not my thing. But, Levin does something I admire. He’s honest about his sleaziness. TMZ pays for interviews, tapes, pictures, soiled underwear…whatever they can get. And Thomas Riccio’s exposure of the ABC payment of $15,000 (which ABC denies claiming the payment was for audio) and the Entertainment Tonight payment of $25,000 (also denied) is a good start at leveling the playing field. If you’re going to pay for interviews, be honest with the people you pander to and admit it.

TLE will not be paying for interviews…at least not until we make some money. And then we’ll tell you about it. It’s just the right thing to do. It’s too bad honesty in this business is a breath of fresh air.

MJB