The big news this week was the SEC’s release of its new media policy. This should not be confused with its “new media” policy. No, the SEC took steps to ensure it didn’t really have a “new media” policy, by essentially recoiling into the comfort zone that is the status quo, with its new media policy. Namely, it wants to protect the interests of its media partners and their advertisers, by adhering to the quaint concept of big rights fees for major sports properties. It doesn’t want anyone to reproduce, rebroadcast, or re-sell not only game footage produced by broadcast rights holders, but it wants to prohibit any fan in the stands from disseminating any description or images from the games to anybody via any device.

The irony is thick here. Think about it. These media partners...