NBC loses exclusive broadcast of Golden Globes

The move by the foreign press association, which hands out the accolades, came after a financial dispute between NBC and Dick Clark Productions, the company contracted to produce the original Golden Globes telecast.

The decision means that the Writers Guild of America will not picket the event, opening the door to possible appearances by actors and directors.

But it may be too late to restore any glamour to the ceremony, which has gone through a dizzying series of incarnations in recent weeks due to the politics of the writers strike.

Once the kickoff to the awards season, this year's show has been reduced to a half-hour news conference. Presenters will include "Entertainment Tonight's" Mary Hart, "The Insider's" Lara Spencer and Jim Moret of "Inside Edition."

NBC was originally slated to be the exclusive broadcaster of the news conference, with "Access Hollywood's" Nancy O'Dell and Billy Bush as hosts.

But after signing off on that format, Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. President Jorge Camara said Friday that the group would allow other television outlets to carry it live as well.

The abrupt turn was triggered by a last-minute demand by Dick Clark Productions for NBC to pay what it called a "nominal license fee" for its coverage Sunday, which includes a two-hour "Dateline" special on the Globes nominees. NBC officials refused, saying it was inappropriate to request a fee for news programming.

The network, which said the company had demanded a license fee "north of seven figures," added that it is considering taking legal recourse to address a possible breach of contract by Dick Clark Productions.

"We are feeling very strongly that this was not handled legally or correctly by them," said one NBC executive, who called the license fee request "insulting." The executive declined to be named while discussing financial specifics of the deal.

While Dick Clark Productions had offered the network the use of clips it had produced for the original telecast, NBC had declined to use them, executives said.

The network, facing a hole in its schedule, still plans to broadcast the news conference after its "Dateline" special. (In Los Angeles, KNBC will show the announcement of the winners live at 6 p.m., followed by "Dateline" at 7 p.m. and then a 9 p.m. rebroadcast of the Globes announcement.)

But what already was likely to be a lackluster event for the network will now face competition from other outlets. CNN, E! and TV Guide Network plan to cover the announcement.

matea.gold@latimes.com

Times staff writers Maria Elena Fernandez and Martin Miller contributed to this report.