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Thursday, July 13, 2000

KITV: No more
live MNF

The station will go after
businesses which show
NFL games on Monday

By Gregg K. Kakesako
Star-Bulletin

Beginning July 31, fans of "Monday Night Football" won't be able to get it live at their favorite tavern or restaurant.

Michael Rosenberg, president and general manager of KITV, said his station will start going after businesses which try to show live telecasts of the football games.

KITV, which shows the games on a tape-delayed basis at 6:30 p.m., owns the local copyrights.

Rosenberg said today that KITV plans to hire Honolulu private investigators -- Goodenow Associates -- to track down violators. The station also doesn't plan to issue any waivers even to home owners with satellite dishes.

He also warned that local businesses cannot even take a "Monday Night Football" satellite feed from a mainland station and show it here.

Under federal copyright laws, satellite owners have to get the written consent from KITV before showing the program.

Rosenberg said KITV would be entitled to actual damages, plus statutory damages of as much as $100,000 for each telecast infringement under federal copyright laws.

It will be the National Football League, which receives $250,000 a year from KITV, that will take the court action.

"We're enforcing the law," said Rosenberg, who has sent out warning letters to 1,000 restaurant and bar owners.