San Diego State University understands the importance of assisting the media in providing coverage of the institution, its athletics programs, administrators, coaches and student-athletes. To this end, the best attempt will be made to fill reasonable requests by recognized media outlets. It is not permissible for media members to contact any athletics department administrator, associate, coach or student-athlete directly without working through the athletic communications department.
Press Credentials
Season credentials will not be issued for San Diego State football or men’s basketball during the 2024-25 academic year. Working press credentials for the 2024 San Diego State home football games must be submitted though an online credential link, which is located here:
*** ONLINE CREDENTIALING LINK ***
Credential requests must come from the sports editors or the sports directors only. Requests for single games should be made as far in advance as possible and no later than three days in advance of that week’s game (Tuesday for Friday games, Wednesday for Saturday games). You will receive an email regarding the status of your request at a later date. Please note that some requests may not be granted due to our current policy or limited space. Once approved, credentials will be available to be picked up at the media relations office during normal business hours or two hours prior to kickoff on game day at the Media Will Call booth near the Northwest Gate. Regardless of whether you are picking up a credential or already have it hand, government identification matching the name on the credential must be provided to enter the stadium. Any questions or concerns can be directed to Jamie McConeghy in the San Diego State media relations department at jmcconeg@sdsu.edu.
Credential Guidelines
Credentials and working space for media members are issued at the sole and exclusive discretion of the San Diego State Media Relations Office based on the following priorities and guidelines:
- Originating television and radio personnel involved in a live broadcast.
- Daily newspapers regularly covering San Diego State, the current-game opponent. Wire services, regional and national publications are also afforded this priority.
- Non-originating radio and television personnel producing reports on the game. Only local radio stations with a full-time sports director conducting a regular sports show receive consideration.
- Officially recognized San Diego State student publications or electronic media outlets.
- Non-daily newspapers reporting on the game.
Additional Credential Rules
- Credentials are non-transferable and are subject to immediate revocation if transferred.
- Credentials are issued to web sites that are affiliated with national or regional television news media organizations.
- No credentials will be issued to any website that is not deemed by the San Diego State media relations office to have adequate editorial oversight.
- San Diego State has the right to deny media credentials to any individual whose web site is not affiliated with a recognized news-gathering organization.
- Restrictions have been placed on the usage of Internet video of San Diego State athletic events. Highlights of game action and news conferences for San Diego State events cannot exceed three minutes in length per event.
Photographers/Sideline Policy
San Diego State adheres to the NCAA and MW guidelines regarding media representatives on the sidelines.
- Photo credentials will be issued only to accredited media outlets prior to the game and photo identification must be provided. Freelance photographers will not be issued credentials.
- All working photographers/videographers must wear at photo/video vest, which should be picked up with an approved credential at the Northwest gate.
- Working photographers/videographers are permitted to shoot in the designated area (between the two marked dotted lines outside the 20-yard lines). All other media representatives on the field (announcers, reporters, etc.) must stand behind the designated area. This will ensure that photographers/videographers have the appropriate space to do their work.
- According to NCAA policies, the presence of any type of photographer (television or still) in the bench area for all sports is strictly prohibited. According to the NCAA Football Rules and Interpretations Manual (Rule 1, Section 2, Article 4b): "the team area shall be limited to squad members in uniform and a maximum of 40 other individuals directly involved in the game. The 40 individuals not in uniform shall wear special identification." (Rule 1, Section 2, Article 4e): "No media personnel, including journalists, radio and television personnel, or their equipment, shall be in the team area or coaching box, and no media personnel shall communicate in any way with persons in the team area or coaching box."
- San Diego State also prohibits photographers (television or still) from stopping and shooting from directly behind the bench area or into the bench area.
2024-2025 MOUNTAIN WEST TELEVISION HIGHLIGHT POLICIES
By accepting or using a media/TV credential (“Credential”) for access to any game or athletic contest sponsored or hosted by the Mountain West (the “MW”) or by any one or more of its member institutions (herein an “Event” or the “Events”) each person and entity issued such a Credential (herein referred to, along with the employer of each such person, collectively as the “Bearer”) agrees to the following terms and conditions:
- The credential card authorizes (i) the Accredited Organization to use descriptions, accounts, film, video, or digital still images from the applicable MW Game or Event solely for news and editorial coverage purposes in accordance with the terms hereof.
2. All Mountain West broadcasts on CBS Sports, FOX Sports, truTV, and Mountain West Network are the copyright of the Mountain West Conference (and not of the media entity). Any other use of a broadcast (including low-angle footage shot by a media entity) or any pictures, descriptions, or accounts of the game without the consent of Mountain West is prohibited.
3. Except as expressly provided in this Agreement, media entities are prohibited from copying, reproducing, modifying, distributing, displaying, performing, or transmitting any of the contents of the Services for any purposes, and nothing otherwise stated or implied in the Services confers on you any license or right to do so.
4. In all highlight instances, an on-screen three-second graphical courtesy, “Video provided by CBS Sports, FOX Sports, truTV, or Mountain West Network,” is required.
5. The “Courtesy” graphic is required in all highlight usages, no matter if a media entity is taking the “Dirty Feed” or using a low-angle camera shot by a media entity. Stations may not cover the MW TV rights holder bug with their own station graphic or lower third billboard.
6. For CBS Sports. An approved telecaster may use a maximum of two minutes and 30 seconds of footage upon completion of the Network Event (CBS Sports off-air) and up to five (5) minutes of expanded excerpts of coverage of each Network Event made available twelve (12) hours after the conclusion of such event. Television entities may not air highlights of a live CBS Sports broadcast until the telecast has ended and CBS Sports is off the air.
7. For FOX Sports. An approved telecaster may use a maximum of three minutes of footage once upon completion of the Network Event (FOX Sports off-air) and up to five (5) minutes of highlights starting the day after the Network Event (or, if the Network Event concludes after midnight local time, immediately after the conclusion of the event). Television entities may not air highlights of a live FOX Sports broadcast until the telecast has ended and FOX Sports is off the air.
8. For Mountain West Network (MWN). An approved telecaster may use a maximum of three minutes of footage and up to eight (8) minutes of highlights starting the day after the Network Event (or, if the Network Event concludes after midnight local time, immediately after the event’s conclusion). Television entities may air a maximum of 30 seconds of highlights of a live MWN broadcast if accompanied by a “Live Now on the MWN” graphical courtesy.
9. For truTV. An approved telecaster may use a maximum of three minutes of footage once upon completion of the Network Event (truTV off-air) and up to five (5) minutes of highlights starting the day after the Network Event (or, if the Network Event concludes after midnight local time, immediately after the conclusion of the event). Television entities may not air highlights of a live truTV broadcast until the telecast has ended and truTV is off the air.
10. After seven days from the conclusion of the Network Event on CBS Sports, Fox Sports, truTV or MWN, all Event footage, including “Dirty Feed video or video shot by a media entity (e.g., NFL, NBA/WNBA, MLB, ESPN, Netflix, Apple TV, local TV stations [including low-angle footage shot by station camers], etc.) should be directed to the Mountain West Conference for usage rights or go through the appropriate channels at Catapult for licensing.
11. Highlight requests of institutions by media entities (e.g., NFL, NBA/WNBA, MLB, ESPN, Netflix, Apple TV, local TV stations [including low-angle footage shot by station camers], etc.) from current or previous seasons should be directed to the Mountain West Conference and go through the appropriate channels at Catapult for licensing.
12. In consideration for access to video and/or audio excerpts, the television entity agrees, upon the request of the Mountain West, to supply the MW office with a video or audio recording (as may be the case) of any video shot by the media entity that required a credential to an MW or institutional event or a program incorporating highlights and hereby consents to the use of excerpts from such a program by the MW.
13. No television entity — broadcast or cable — may incorporate, superimpose, or “burn-in” into any highlights a logo, trademark, advertisement, scoreboard, or other graphic without prior written permission from the Mountain West.
14. The Mountain West, CBS Sports, FOX Sports and truTV shall have the authority to withdraw permission to use highlights by appropriate notice at any time and for any reason.
15. No rights afforded to an approved media entity may be assigned, transferred, or otherwise conveyed to any organization, person, or entity. Any organization, person, or entity wishing to use film or video of an MW event in any manner not expressly permitted herein must obtain written permission from the Mountain West for such usage.
16. Highlights may not be sold, traded, loaned, or given away to any other entity and may not be used commercially for on-air promotion or in any other manner not explicitly set forth in these policies without prior written permission from the MW TV rights holder and the Mountain West. By way of illustration, but not limitation, without a specific separate license from the TV rights holder and the Mountain West, broadcast footage may not be used (i) in commercials, (ii) “sponsored segment” of a program, (iii) “on-air” promotions (e.g., “tune-in” promotion or “tease”), (iv) as “file footage,” or (v) for any other use (e.g., archival) not explicitly permitted by these policies.
17. Mountain West institutions may fill requests for footage with the institution’s video directly with MW broadcast partners for non-commercial and editorial use (e.g., b-roll for upcoming broadcasts and promotion of scheduled telecasts).
18. An MW institution may use up to three (3) minutes of footage from MW TV rights holder broadcast (absent commentary) of the game in which such institution participated for a highlight video covering the entire season, provided the materials shall not otherwise be reproduced, licensed, sold or otherwise used in connection with any commercial purpose.
19. Highlights must not be used in such a manner as to denigrate the Mountain West, MW member institutions, their student-athletes, coaches, administration, or officials.