CNN Making Presidential Debate Video Available to Public “Without Restrictions”

Via Kagro X at dailykos, CNN has made an announcement: Media Advisory For Release: May 5, 2007 CNN to Make Presidential Debate Footage Available without Restrictions As previously announced, CNN will team up with Hearst-Argyle’s WMUR-TV and the New Hampshire Union Leader to host two presidential debates to be held in America’s first primary state. The debate featuring Democratic candidates will be held on Sunday, June 3, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and the Republican debate will be held on Tuesday, June 5, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Due to the historical nature of presidential debates and the significance of these forums to the American public, CNN believes strongly that the debates should be accessible to the public. The candidates need to be held accountable for what they say throughout the election process. The presidential debates are an integral part of our system of government, in which the American people have the opportunity to make informed choices about who will serve them. Therefore, CNN debate coverage will be made available without restrictions at the conclusion of each live debate. We believe this is good for the country and good for the electoral process. This decision will apply to all of CNN’s presidential debates, beginning with the upcoming New Hampshire debates in June. Republicans and Democrats and everyone else can now all equally enjoy the free (financially and without editing restriction) use of the video for web display. Just for the record, since the statement does not explicitly address copyright, the network should be presumed to maintain its copyright ownership.