Feld making negative changes.

T-Fish
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Fantasy
5/15/2026 4:57pm
ML512 wrote:
The rumored plan was that Feld would take the production of all digital assets (video and photo) in-house from the races. Eliminating media, teams, sponsors, and...

The rumored plan was that Feld would take the production of all digital assets (video and photo) in-house from the races. Eliminating media, teams, sponsors, and riders from contracting or assigning their own people to gather the assets needed for their marketing, news features, reporting, social media, vlogs etc.

This would, in turn, make media, teams, sponsors, riders, etc have to pay licensing fees or per asset fees to the series to have access to some sort of media library or server to use these.

For media, this would potentially remove a revenue source that helps cover the costs of photographers or reporters going to the races, reducing or completely eliminating their ability to cover the sport. For teams and riders, this would just create one more payment they have to give the series after paying entry fees, license fees, potential marketing fees (in the case of OEMs), etc.

The media is upset and worried that they will lose potential revenue needed to offset travel costs and people's time to cover the sport, along with being stuck with a limited range of assets and time limits in which they can use them. Further damaging their ability to cover the sport in their own unique ways, which are needed to differentiate from each other, to capture an audience. Along with potentially just putting people out of jobs, along with controlling the narrative we can tell.

OEMs or series sponsors are upset with the idea because, as many have put it to me "we already spend so much money with the series, and now we'd have to give them more just so we can market that we did well at their races?"

There are a few more layers to it on how it would affect teams. If a gear brand, say Thor or FXR, pays a team say $80,000 per season, part of what they receive from the team is assets from the races to market those riders. Now said team might be able to contract a photographer at a reasonable rate because they shoot for 15 brands and balance the costs vs what each brand or team requests. Under the rumored program, every brand, team, etc would have to pay for assets. So if a brand is now paying extra/elevated costs to get assets of the team riders at the race, because the team now has a license where they can only use the assets for their own channels, the gear brand has spent more money out of their budget. This could cause them to reduce how much they spend with teams, as their total budget has to be used in a wider range of ways. This goes for any type of brand in the sport.

What I’m confused about is how the media would lose revenue. While I have not received a media approval letter from Feld, I have for MX Sports and it explicitly says they own all images and footage taken. Feld doesn’t have the same or similar wording in their approvals? If they do, media is selling images and footage that doesn’t even belong to them, no? Just curious because maybe I took the emails the wrong way or something. 

Thanks. 

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cool_hand
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5/15/2026 6:56pm

Seems the more Moto Vids that flood the airwaves, the bigger the sport grows. Feld can't have that,....

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Josh422
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5/15/2026 7:08pm

Has this been covered? Haven’t read all the pages…

If they lock up a lot of the photography/videography are they planning on a series production to go along with the racing? Seems that they have took notice to how much of the Deegan, Jett/Hunter, etc weekly videos have took off? They want more of the YouTube pie?
 

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RACING
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5/16/2026 2:50am

Michael, do you think it's mostly about money or do you feel control is also an important part? 

I always thought what we like here, your eagle-eyed lense in the pits spotting austro-japanese suspension or one-off airboxes and now Lew's "annoying" questions or even your "what we learned on Friday" could irritate the powers that be...

Do you think the will to build a "clean", controlled (and boring) narrative is part of this mess?

 

Whatever, what you depict is an absolute nightmare you'd expect from an authoritarian regime, hope there's enough pressure on Feld to make them soften their views... Blocking free media is never a good sign.

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The Shop

levimx22
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5/16/2026 5:21am Edited Date/Time 5/18/2026 6:03am

sounds like my lifelong dream of shooting an mx/sx race is going out the window. but im still going for it! 

 

This is Mikkel Haarup at Motoplaygrounds Spring a Ding Ding race at Oakhill.DSC0472

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8tensolutions
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5/16/2026 8:35am
ML512 wrote:
The rumored plan was that Feld would take the production of all digital assets (video and photo) in-house from the races. Eliminating media, teams, sponsors, and...

The rumored plan was that Feld would take the production of all digital assets (video and photo) in-house from the races. Eliminating media, teams, sponsors, and riders from contracting or assigning their own people to gather the assets needed for their marketing, news features, reporting, social media, vlogs etc.

This would, in turn, make media, teams, sponsors, riders, etc have to pay licensing fees or per asset fees to the series to have access to some sort of media library or server to use these.

For media, this would potentially remove a revenue source that helps cover the costs of photographers or reporters going to the races, reducing or completely eliminating their ability to cover the sport. For teams and riders, this would just create one more payment they have to give the series after paying entry fees, license fees, potential marketing fees (in the case of OEMs), etc.

The media is upset and worried that they will lose potential revenue needed to offset travel costs and people's time to cover the sport, along with being stuck with a limited range of assets and time limits in which they can use them. Further damaging their ability to cover the sport in their own unique ways, which are needed to differentiate from each other, to capture an audience. Along with potentially just putting people out of jobs, along with controlling the narrative we can tell.

OEMs or series sponsors are upset with the idea because, as many have put it to me "we already spend so much money with the series, and now we'd have to give them more just so we can market that we did well at their races?"

There are a few more layers to it on how it would affect teams. If a gear brand, say Thor or FXR, pays a team say $80,000 per season, part of what they receive from the team is assets from the races to market those riders. Now said team might be able to contract a photographer at a reasonable rate because they shoot for 15 brands and balance the costs vs what each brand or team requests. Under the rumored program, every brand, team, etc would have to pay for assets. So if a brand is now paying extra/elevated costs to get assets of the team riders at the race, because the team now has a license where they can only use the assets for their own channels, the gear brand has spent more money out of their budget. This could cause them to reduce how much they spend with teams, as their total budget has to be used in a wider range of ways. This goes for any type of brand in the sport.

MXMattii wrote:
The OEMs, Teams, Sponsors, Media, ... need to react firmly on it. They have the power to leave and give WSX a boost or create an...

The OEMs, Teams, Sponsors, Media, ... need to react firmly on it. They have the power to leave and give WSX a boost or create an own series.

This is a pivotal moment in the sport. If they swallow this the sport will be ruined.

React firmly to what exactly?  Oh yeah, nobody knows.

1
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Gmyersdork
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5/16/2026 4:43pm
levimx22 wrote:
sounds like my lifelong dream of shooting an mx/sx race is going out the window. but im still going for it!  This is Mikkel Haarup at Motoplaygrounds...

sounds like my lifelong dream of shooting an mx/sx race is going out the window. but im still going for it! 

 

This is Mikkel Haarup at Motoplaygrounds Spring a Ding Ding race at Oakhill.DSC0472

No strobes

Bosco
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5/16/2026 6:05pm

I just hope the shareholders come out of all this doing ok

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5/16/2026 7:07pm Edited Date/Time 5/16/2026 7:12pm

UFC and Feld are brothers from another mother. 

They are only going to come closer together. 

This is a great comparison, but there is one fundamental difference, and that is Dana White is both genuinely an incredible promoter AND he loves fighting...

This is a great comparison, but there is one fundamental difference, and that is Dana White is both genuinely an incredible promoter AND he loves fighting. There is nobody who can convince me the people who run SX actually LOVE this sport.


I disagree with about 99% of the way Dana has handled fighters and arranging belt challenges, but I absolutely cannot argue with his results. UFC is more popular than ever, even if the sport peaked with Connor a decade ago.

Supercross would be just as popular if riding a dirt bike was the way to survive and get out of almost any shitty situation most find themselves in across the world, and the barrier to entry excluded buying a dirt bike. 

Way more would watch as well if you had a ceremonial face off between Hunter & Kenny, and a press conference where they throw shit at each other. 

($20 says Deegan replicates this whole charade if he’s ever in a winner take all championship scenario. And if he does, $5 says he even brings a scale.) 


With platforms that provide instant access to people seeking a 5 second dopamine hit, a population addicted to negative skewing, dualistic drama, and a sport that is as primal as it gets, Dana is selling candy to babies. 

If anything, he’s fumbled the ball that it’s not more popular across broader markets. That would involve actually loving the sport and the people in it. Instead, he spends his energy bringing the world Power Slap. 

Back to Feld and SX. 

Let’s be real. A 5 second slo-mo of guys banging bars or crashing their brains out in 4k, in your pocket whenever you want it, is dope. Literally and figuratively. SX is an unreal business to be in for getting attention. Feld is selling candy to toddlers.

And they are fucking it up. 

That’s the gap WSX sees. 

That’s what they now see.

And they are fucking up trying to fix it. 

Because they only see the world through one lens, what’s good for themselves and their bottom line. 

Fuck the world and everyone in it.


Same same Dana. Same same UFC. 

Ps. The TP199 IG got its last views from my eyeballs right before coming here to Vital. Begging Dana, like his fighters beg for bonus money, to be part of the pedo show at the White House, while at a PowerSlap event no less.
 

Pps. Give me motocross or give me death.


Ppps. The world is a stage 🎭 

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WFO Dave
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5/17/2026 12:35pm

until ML actually tells us what FELD is proposing, we're all just pissin' in the wind. 

ML512 wrote:
The rumored plan was that Feld would take the production of all digital assets (video and photo) in-house from the races. Eliminating media, teams, sponsors, and...

The rumored plan was that Feld would take the production of all digital assets (video and photo) in-house from the races. Eliminating media, teams, sponsors, and riders from contracting or assigning their own people to gather the assets needed for their marketing, news features, reporting, social media, vlogs etc.

This would, in turn, make media, teams, sponsors, riders, etc have to pay licensing fees or per asset fees to the series to have access to some sort of media library or server to use these.

For media, this would potentially remove a revenue source that helps cover the costs of photographers or reporters going to the races, reducing or completely eliminating their ability to cover the sport. For teams and riders, this would just create one more payment they have to give the series after paying entry fees, license fees, potential marketing fees (in the case of OEMs), etc.

The media is upset and worried that they will lose potential revenue needed to offset travel costs and people's time to cover the sport, along with being stuck with a limited range of assets and time limits in which they can use them. Further damaging their ability to cover the sport in their own unique ways, which are needed to differentiate from each other, to capture an audience. Along with potentially just putting people out of jobs, along with controlling the narrative we can tell.

OEMs or series sponsors are upset with the idea because, as many have put it to me "we already spend so much money with the series, and now we'd have to give them more just so we can market that we did well at their races?"

There are a few more layers to it on how it would affect teams. If a gear brand, say Thor or FXR, pays a team say $80,000 per season, part of what they receive from the team is assets from the races to market those riders. Now said team might be able to contract a photographer at a reasonable rate because they shoot for 15 brands and balance the costs vs what each brand or team requests. Under the rumored program, every brand, team, etc would have to pay for assets. So if a brand is now paying extra/elevated costs to get assets of the team riders at the race, because the team now has a license where they can only use the assets for their own channels, the gear brand has spent more money out of their budget. This could cause them to reduce how much they spend with teams, as their total budget has to be used in a wider range of ways. This goes for any type of brand in the sport.

If what you're saying is true (and I have zero reason to doubt you) then FELD and MX Sports had better buckle up because what's up next is revenue sharing ticket sales with teams/riders. The folks with the most clout are the manufacturers and the riders not FELD/MX Sports. FELD/MX Sports can only control so much before it gets into Anti trust territory. NASCAR lost that battle and paid dearly.

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Tyler D
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5/17/2026 1:38pm

until ML actually tells us what FELD is proposing, we're all just pissin' in the wind. 

ML512 wrote:
The rumored plan was that Feld would take the production of all digital assets (video and photo) in-house from the races. Eliminating media, teams, sponsors, and...

The rumored plan was that Feld would take the production of all digital assets (video and photo) in-house from the races. Eliminating media, teams, sponsors, and riders from contracting or assigning their own people to gather the assets needed for their marketing, news features, reporting, social media, vlogs etc.

This would, in turn, make media, teams, sponsors, riders, etc have to pay licensing fees or per asset fees to the series to have access to some sort of media library or server to use these.

For media, this would potentially remove a revenue source that helps cover the costs of photographers or reporters going to the races, reducing or completely eliminating their ability to cover the sport. For teams and riders, this would just create one more payment they have to give the series after paying entry fees, license fees, potential marketing fees (in the case of OEMs), etc.

The media is upset and worried that they will lose potential revenue needed to offset travel costs and people's time to cover the sport, along with being stuck with a limited range of assets and time limits in which they can use them. Further damaging their ability to cover the sport in their own unique ways, which are needed to differentiate from each other, to capture an audience. Along with potentially just putting people out of jobs, along with controlling the narrative we can tell.

OEMs or series sponsors are upset with the idea because, as many have put it to me "we already spend so much money with the series, and now we'd have to give them more just so we can market that we did well at their races?"

There are a few more layers to it on how it would affect teams. If a gear brand, say Thor or FXR, pays a team say $80,000 per season, part of what they receive from the team is assets from the races to market those riders. Now said team might be able to contract a photographer at a reasonable rate because they shoot for 15 brands and balance the costs vs what each brand or team requests. Under the rumored program, every brand, team, etc would have to pay for assets. So if a brand is now paying extra/elevated costs to get assets of the team riders at the race, because the team now has a license where they can only use the assets for their own channels, the gear brand has spent more money out of their budget. This could cause them to reduce how much they spend with teams, as their total budget has to be used in a wider range of ways. This goes for any type of brand in the sport.

WFO Dave wrote:
If what you're saying is true (and I have zero reason to doubt you) then FELD and MX Sports had better buckle up because what's up...

If what you're saying is true (and I have zero reason to doubt you) then FELD and MX Sports had better buckle up because what's up next is revenue sharing ticket sales with teams/riders. The folks with the most clout are the manufacturers and the riders not FELD/MX Sports. FELD/MX Sports can only control so much before it gets into Anti trust territory. NASCAR lost that battle and paid dearly.

based post. lets hope they organize under a shrewd agent and BTFO feld

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Jdog2221
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5/17/2026 7:30pm
WFO Dave wrote:
If what you're saying is true (and I have zero reason to doubt you) then FELD and MX Sports had better buckle up because what's up...

If what you're saying is true (and I have zero reason to doubt you) then FELD and MX Sports had better buckle up because what's up next is revenue sharing ticket sales with teams/riders. The folks with the most clout are the manufacturers and the riders not FELD/MX Sports. FELD/MX Sports can only control so much before it gets into Anti trust territory. NASCAR lost that battle and paid dearly.

Would love to see something like this happen, even if it doesn’t work out, it would be crazy to see some of the things that came out through the nascar trial come out in moto

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Motofinne
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5/18/2026 2:33am

This is such a crazy thing to push through. I really, really want to see their Excel sheets where they have calculated this scenario and how much they think they're going to profit from doing this.

I don't think it will happen. The other stakeholders (OEMs, private teams, riders, sponsors) will have nothing to gain in this, only negatives.

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NickoBrap
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5/18/2026 6:57am

These rumors really illustrate my biggest problem with the world nowadays. The bean-counters have completely taken over everything. Very few companies these days are earnestly interested in producing the best product possible for the consumer. I understand that business is business, but I feel like a big shakeup is coming for many industries.

14
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aeffertz
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5/19/2026 11:57pm
NickoBrap wrote:
These rumors really illustrate my biggest problem with the world nowadays. The bean-counters have completely taken over everything. Very few companies these days are earnestly interested...

These rumors really illustrate my biggest problem with the world nowadays. The bean-counters have completely taken over everything. Very few companies these days are earnestly interested in producing the best product possible for the consumer. I understand that business is business, but I feel like a big shakeup is coming for many industries.

Greed. Then they pit the workers against each other when the workers demand more for their labor by saying the workers are actually the greedy ones. And then the worst part: it works!

Class consciousness, people! We are on a bad, bad slope. 

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Tyler D
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5/20/2026 1:15am
NickoBrap wrote:
These rumors really illustrate my biggest problem with the world nowadays. The bean-counters have completely taken over everything. Very few companies these days are earnestly interested...

These rumors really illustrate my biggest problem with the world nowadays. The bean-counters have completely taken over everything. Very few companies these days are earnestly interested in producing the best product possible for the consumer. I understand that business is business, but I feel like a big shakeup is coming for many industries.

aeffertz wrote:
Greed. Then they pit the workers against each other when the workers demand more for their labor by saying the workers are actually the greedy ones...

Greed. Then they pit the workers against each other when the workers demand more for their labor by saying the workers are actually the greedy ones. And then the worst part: it works!

Class consciousness, people! We are on a bad, bad slope. 

i think its just the vulture class looking for a quick return. the steady, sustainable growth model has been crowded out and the only way to get investment and compete is to juice short-term numbers at the expense of quality and thus long-term brand equity. the Japanese generally have/had it right, the ROW have it wrong, but it's sort of become the american way. 

Shimano vs SRAM at the enthusiast level in the bike world is a good example. Shimano is terrible at product segmentation because they are too ethical to decontent their products. SRAM will sell literal shit to an OEM jsut to get the spec and the shit falls apart in 3-4 months. they usually keep the customer becuase the customer buys into the deceptive marketing hype at the higher end and is too lazy or ignorant to do actual research, and /or just wants what is considered cool. meanwhile shimano and their boring 6-year, hyperengineered product cycles is merely viewed as slow and old hat. 

IOW custoemrs are to blame too, because they want better/faster/cheaper instead of a better engineered, less flashy, slightly less intuitive product that will actually serve them well with limited amounts of built-in planned obsolescence. 

on the street side KTM is the epitome of this. flashy products with lots of attention grabbing features, that use questionable suppliers and leave customers stranded down the road. but theyre fun to ride when they do work and they always review really well in the magazines. also, ktm customers apparently dont mind paying $$$ to unlock software features already on the bike, so. 

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SlackBoy
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5/20/2026 2:05am
NickoBrap wrote:
These rumors really illustrate my biggest problem with the world nowadays. The bean-counters have completely taken over everything. Very few companies these days are earnestly interested...

These rumors really illustrate my biggest problem with the world nowadays. The bean-counters have completely taken over everything. Very few companies these days are earnestly interested in producing the best product possible for the consumer. I understand that business is business, but I feel like a big shakeup is coming for many industries.

aeffertz wrote:
Greed. Then they pit the workers against each other when the workers demand more for their labor by saying the workers are actually the greedy ones...

Greed. Then they pit the workers against each other when the workers demand more for their labor by saying the workers are actually the greedy ones. And then the worst part: it works!

Class consciousness, people! We are on a bad, bad slope. 

Tyler D wrote:
i think its just the vulture class looking for a quick return. the steady, sustainable growth model has been crowded out and the only way to...

i think its just the vulture class looking for a quick return. the steady, sustainable growth model has been crowded out and the only way to get investment and compete is to juice short-term numbers at the expense of quality and thus long-term brand equity. the Japanese generally have/had it right, the ROW have it wrong, but it's sort of become the american way. 

Shimano vs SRAM at the enthusiast level in the bike world is a good example. Shimano is terrible at product segmentation because they are too ethical to decontent their products. SRAM will sell literal shit to an OEM jsut to get the spec and the shit falls apart in 3-4 months. they usually keep the customer becuase the customer buys into the deceptive marketing hype at the higher end and is too lazy or ignorant to do actual research, and /or just wants what is considered cool. meanwhile shimano and their boring 6-year, hyperengineered product cycles is merely viewed as slow and old hat. 

IOW custoemrs are to blame too, because they want better/faster/cheaper instead of a better engineered, less flashy, slightly less intuitive product that will actually serve them well with limited amounts of built-in planned obsolescence. 

on the street side KTM is the epitome of this. flashy products with lots of attention grabbing features, that use questionable suppliers and leave customers stranded down the road. but theyre fun to ride when they do work and they always review really well in the magazines. also, ktm customers apparently dont mind paying $$$ to unlock software features already on the bike, so. 

As true blueblooder, I used to stock about 90% Shimano to Sram in my shop. Sram is a marketing company that makes bike components, and Shimano is a bike Component maker that sometimes markets.
(oh and FFS Shimano just bring out some fresh Saint, it's been 14 years)

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GBS
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5/20/2026 2:16am
WFO Dave wrote:
If what you're saying is true (and I have zero reason to doubt you) then FELD and MX Sports had better buckle up because what's up...

If what you're saying is true (and I have zero reason to doubt you) then FELD and MX Sports had better buckle up because what's up next is revenue sharing ticket sales with teams/riders. The folks with the most clout are the manufacturers and the riders not FELD/MX Sports. FELD/MX Sports can only control so much before it gets into Anti trust territory. NASCAR lost that battle and paid dearly.

Jdog2221 wrote:
Would love to see something like this happen, even if it doesn’t work out, it would be crazy to see some of the things that came...

Would love to see something like this happen, even if it doesn’t work out, it would be crazy to see some of the things that came out through the nascar trial come out in moto

Feld and MX Sports talk to the teams weekly and would surely discuss the proposed changes with the team before doing anything and I think the teams would care less about how many press are standing there as long as the message gets out and you can be sure Feld will get the message out.

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3strokemx
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5/20/2026 5:15am
SlackBoy wrote:
As true blueblooder, I used to stock about 90% Shimano to Sram in my shop. Sram is a marketing company that makes bike components, and Shimano...

As true blueblooder, I used to stock about 90% Shimano to Sram in my shop. Sram is a marketing company that makes bike components, and Shimano is a bike Component maker that sometimes markets.
(oh and FFS Shimano just bring out some fresh Saint, it's been 14 years)

I stopped taking SRAM seriously the 2nd time they released Gripshift.

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parks387
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5/20/2026 6:13am
TheMilkman wrote:
I think Feld is trying to get rid of some of the “journalists” that have fewer followers/subscribers than the average fan. I doubt they boot out...

I think Feld is trying to get rid of some of the “journalists” that have fewer followers/subscribers than the average fan. I doubt they boot out the legit journalists and photographers.

However it was interesting to hear that Feld wants to own all of their content they create at the stadium. That will certainly be a step backwards for fan entertainment. Hopefully it doesn’t change the amount of Press Day videos and interviews we get because I look forward to those every week. 

FELD and ALL their regarded employees are the biggest detractors of the sport. They are literally trying to control the narrative of the reporting. They will 100% ruin the sport if they pull off this Nazi Germany BS.

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T-Fish
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5/20/2026 8:34am
TheMilkman wrote:
I think Feld is trying to get rid of some of the “journalists” that have fewer followers/subscribers than the average fan. I doubt they boot out...

I think Feld is trying to get rid of some of the “journalists” that have fewer followers/subscribers than the average fan. I doubt they boot out the legit journalists and photographers.

However it was interesting to hear that Feld wants to own all of their content they create at the stadium. That will certainly be a step backwards for fan entertainment. Hopefully it doesn’t change the amount of Press Day videos and interviews we get because I look forward to those every week. 

parks387 wrote:
FELD and ALL their regarded employees are the biggest detractors of the sport. They are literally trying to control the narrative of the reporting. They will...

FELD and ALL their regarded employees are the biggest detractors of the sport. They are literally trying to control the narrative of the reporting. They will 100% ruin the sport if they pull off this Nazi Germany BS.

It doesn't sound to me like they're trying to control the reporting, just trying to take control of the images and footage created while wearing a vest. Still awaiting for ML to reply to my question a page or two ago. 

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FreshTopEnd
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5/20/2026 8:53am
T-Fish wrote:
It doesn't sound to me like they're trying to control the reporting, just trying to take control of the images and footage created while wearing a...

It doesn't sound to me like they're trying to control the reporting, just trying to take control of the images and footage created while wearing a vest. Still awaiting for ML to reply to my question a page or two ago. 

They've had that control, or at least the right to control, for at least ten years.  

Maybe a decade ago one of the shooters contributed a photo to a charity auction and the SX promoter (maybe Live Nation then?) had it pulled.

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T-Fish
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5/20/2026 11:20am
T-Fish wrote:
It doesn't sound to me like they're trying to control the reporting, just trying to take control of the images and footage created while wearing a...

It doesn't sound to me like they're trying to control the reporting, just trying to take control of the images and footage created while wearing a vest. Still awaiting for ML to reply to my question a page or two ago. 

They've had that control, or at least the right to control, for at least ten years.  Maybe a decade ago one of the shooters contributed a...

They've had that control, or at least the right to control, for at least ten years.  

Maybe a decade ago one of the shooters contributed a photo to a charity auction and the SX promoter (maybe Live Nation then?) had it pulled.

But do they really? Matthes indicated on one of his shows that companies such as Alpinestars, or whoever it may be, purchases images from the photographers and ML said in this thread they’re worried about lost revenue. I’m curious what that revenue is, and if they’re selling images that actually belong to Feld per the credential agreement. 

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joshd
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Lucedale, MS US
5/20/2026 11:24am
T-Fish wrote:
It doesn't sound to me like they're trying to control the reporting, just trying to take control of the images and footage created while wearing a...

It doesn't sound to me like they're trying to control the reporting, just trying to take control of the images and footage created while wearing a vest. Still awaiting for ML to reply to my question a page or two ago. 

They've had that control, or at least the right to control, for at least ten years.  Maybe a decade ago one of the shooters contributed a...

They've had that control, or at least the right to control, for at least ten years.  

Maybe a decade ago one of the shooters contributed a photo to a charity auction and the SX promoter (maybe Live Nation then?) had it pulled.

T-Fish wrote:
But do they really? Matthes indicated on one of his shows that companies such as Alpinestars, or whoever it may be, purchases images from the photographers...

But do they really? Matthes indicated on one of his shows that companies such as Alpinestars, or whoever it may be, purchases images from the photographers and ML said in this thread they’re worried about lost revenue. I’m curious what that revenue is, and if they’re selling images that actually belong to Feld per the credential agreement. 

So Feld owns the right to a picture ML took bc he was at their event? Is that what you trying to argue?


Just because something is on paper doesn’t make it right. 

2
FreshTopEnd
Posts
13162
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Sacramento, CA US
5/20/2026 11:49am Edited Date/Time 5/20/2026 11:55am
T-Fish wrote:
It doesn't sound to me like they're trying to control the reporting, just trying to take control of the images and footage created while wearing a...

It doesn't sound to me like they're trying to control the reporting, just trying to take control of the images and footage created while wearing a vest. Still awaiting for ML to reply to my question a page or two ago. 

They've had that control, or at least the right to control, for at least ten years.  Maybe a decade ago one of the shooters contributed a...

They've had that control, or at least the right to control, for at least ten years.  

Maybe a decade ago one of the shooters contributed a photo to a charity auction and the SX promoter (maybe Live Nation then?) had it pulled.

T-Fish wrote:
But do they really? Matthes indicated on one of his shows that companies such as Alpinestars, or whoever it may be, purchases images from the photographers...

But do they really? Matthes indicated on one of his shows that companies such as Alpinestars, or whoever it may be, purchases images from the photographers and ML said in this thread they’re worried about lost revenue. I’m curious what that revenue is, and if they’re selling images that actually belong to Feld per the credential agreement. 

The rough rules of the game when I shot were that if you are credentialed your work can be sold for editorial (mags) or for ads to companies involved in the sport.  Everyone's interests were aligned.  At one point there were restrictions how long images could be on a personal website, but I don't think that was rigorously enforced.  Selling images outside that framework - say posters on Ebay - was a sure way to have your credential pulled.

The issue was less ownership and monetizing than it was control how the images were used.  The promoters wanted the ability to address a "misuse" when it arose, not monitor every moment of activity.  The economy of moto aligned editorial that promoted the sport and advertising that supported OEMS, aftermarket or other companies, and events sponsors investing money to participate in in the MX and SX series.

Apparently there are shifting dynamics in the economy of moto, probably from people freelancing stuff in social media.  The sort of change ML described doesn't make a lot of sense to me in any event.  They already control who gets a credential, and Feld isn't paying those people to go to the races.  I'm not sure how it makes sense for Feld to start contracting and paying content producers for content that Feld will sell to media and sponsors for editorial and advertising.  It's not about restricting those shooting from the floor - that restriction has existed for a long time.

5
2
FreshTopEnd
Posts
13162
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Sacramento, CA US
5/20/2026 11:52am
They've had that control, or at least the right to control, for at least ten years.  Maybe a decade ago one of the shooters contributed a...

They've had that control, or at least the right to control, for at least ten years.  

Maybe a decade ago one of the shooters contributed a photo to a charity auction and the SX promoter (maybe Live Nation then?) had it pulled.

T-Fish wrote:
But do they really? Matthes indicated on one of his shows that companies such as Alpinestars, or whoever it may be, purchases images from the photographers...

But do they really? Matthes indicated on one of his shows that companies such as Alpinestars, or whoever it may be, purchases images from the photographers and ML said in this thread they’re worried about lost revenue. I’m curious what that revenue is, and if they’re selling images that actually belong to Feld per the credential agreement. 

joshd wrote:
So Feld owns the right to a picture ML took bc he was at their event? Is that what you trying to argue?Just because something is...

So Feld owns the right to a picture ML took bc he was at their event? Is that what you trying to argue?


Just because something is on paper doesn’t make it right. 

When you take an image you have the copyright.  You can transfer that copyright.  The credential application specifies (at least it used to) that you relinquish your copyright as a condition of getting the application.  They don't have to give someone a credential.  

3
2
RACING
Posts
1759
Joined
6/9/2023
Location
Waddafeuque FR
5/20/2026 11:57am
RACING wrote:
Michael, do you think it's mostly about money or do you feel control is also an important part? I always thought what we like here, your eagle-eyed...

Michael, do you think it's mostly about money or do you feel control is also an important part? 

I always thought what we like here, your eagle-eyed lense in the pits spotting austro-japanese suspension or one-off airboxes and now Lew's "annoying" questions or even your "what we learned on Friday" could irritate the powers that be...

Do you think the will to build a "clean", controlled (and boring) narrative is part of this mess?

 

Whatever, what you depict is an absolute nightmare you'd expect from an authoritarian regime, hope there's enough pressure on Feld to make them soften their views... Blocking free media is never a good sign.

Michael, if you're around...

 

2
englishman
Posts
2787
Joined
3/7/2008
Location
England GB
5/20/2026 12:05pm
NickoBrap wrote:
These rumors really illustrate my biggest problem with the world nowadays. The bean-counters have completely taken over everything. Very few companies these days are earnestly interested...

These rumors really illustrate my biggest problem with the world nowadays. The bean-counters have completely taken over everything. Very few companies these days are earnestly interested in producing the best product possible for the consumer. I understand that business is business, but I feel like a big shakeup is coming for many industries.

If you’re in to reading “Saving Capitalism” & “The Common Good” would probably interest you. They both speak directly to your comment. 

1
FreshTopEnd
Posts
13162
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Sacramento, CA US
5/20/2026 12:11pm

These are the current existing media application conditions: 

"All ownership, copyright and property rights in each SMX event (including, without limitation, the statistics thereof) and in any telecast, broadcast, transmission or recording thereof shall remain the sole property of the SMX League, and no such rights are conferred to or intended to be conferred to, or created on behalf of, Bearer or any other person or entity by the issuance of this credential."

"Media members approved for editorial assignments (which comprises most credentialed media) are ONLY permitted to provide coverage for their assignment on record and are not allowed to post on personal accounts if on assignment.

  • If a photographer or videographer has been assigned to shoot for a specific media outlet – photos and video can only be used in the scope of that assignment and for that media outlet
  • Photographers and videographers on editorial assignment need to refrain from distributing their work to third parties – teams, racers, sponsors, gear companies, etc., as that is a commercial endeavor
  • Photographers and videographers on editorial assignments cannot sell photographs or videography work for additional clients under an editorial credential
  • At no time should photographs or video appear on a photographer/videographer’s social channels prior to the media outlet they were assigned to shoot for

*Any applicants representing brands that are not partnered with the series will not be permitted. Rare exceptions may be made, but will require a thorough vetting process by series personnel for a potential one-off scenario."

https://promotocross.com/media-access

1
NickoBrap
Posts
145
Joined
1/10/2025
Location
Somewhere, MI US
5/20/2026 12:14pm
NickoBrap wrote:
These rumors really illustrate my biggest problem with the world nowadays. The bean-counters have completely taken over everything. Very few companies these days are earnestly interested...

These rumors really illustrate my biggest problem with the world nowadays. The bean-counters have completely taken over everything. Very few companies these days are earnestly interested in producing the best product possible for the consumer. I understand that business is business, but I feel like a big shakeup is coming for many industries.

englishman wrote:

If you’re in to reading “Saving Capitalism” & “The Common Good” would probably interest you. They both speak directly to your comment. 

They seem to present ideals I'm already into so I'll give them a shot. Thanks! 

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