Broadcast of D-Day +70 Commemoration In Jeopardy

By Chris Ariens 

DDay7070 years ago next week, American and allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy, France to begin freeing Western Europe from Hitler’s grip. 70 years later, the commemoration of those events is not coming free.

The AP reports French broadcasters France Televisions and TF1 are demanding that news providers including the AP, and Reuters pay nearly $265,000 for live broadcast and online streaming coverage of the official ceremonies. The decision comes from French President Francois Hollande who has given those networks exclusive rights to the main international ceremony.

A request by the news agencies to cover the main international ceremony live themselves was denied. The decision means that millions of people around the world may not be able to see next Friday’s ceremonies, including D-Day veterans who may be too frail to travel to France for the anniversary.

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