NZME, Fairfax pull staff out of Rio Games

Major media companies NZME and Fairfax have pulled out of sending journalists to cover the Rio Olympics over a scrap with Sky Television about using video footage on websites.

Senior sports reporter for Fairfax, Mark Geenty, tweeted on Thursday his company had withdrawn its accreditation for the eight-strong team which was meant to cover the Games.

Andrew Alderson, a senior sports reporter from NZME, also tweeted the NZ Herald sports team would not be going.

The two companies have been wrangling with Sky - which is paying for the New Zealand rights to cover Rio - and the New Zealand Olympic Committee about restricting and delaying the use of video footage on the nzherald.co.nz and stuff.co.nz websites.

NZME managing editor Shayne Currie said Sky's conditions were "unduly restrictive".

Stuff group executive editor Sinead Boucher said they objected to anti-competitive moves and an original condition that Sky commentators not be criticised.

She was also critical of the NZOC for letting Sky dictate terms.

Both companies said they would not send reporters, photographers or videographers to the Games but would still cover them.

The decision will mean less varied coverage of New Zealand athletes in Rio.

The NZOC wasn't immediately available for comment.