NBCUniversal Files Application to Livestream Trump’s Trial

On Oct. 11, NBCUniversal Media filed an application to be able to “provide a live feed to the public” of the trial proceedings of United States v. Donald J. Trump in the D.C. district court. They argue that federal rules permit audiovisual coverage of the trial “so long as NBCU News Group does not broadcast live from the courtroom.” Additionally, NBCU argues that Rule 53, which bans photography and broadcasting from the courtroom “does not prohibit the Court from authorizing NBCU News Group to use a single pool camera to cover the trial.” It urges the court to use its discretion to allow the recording of this “historic trial.” 

This filing follows the media coalition’s Oct. 5 application for audiovisual access to the trial proceedings. This application further puts forward two alternatives the court could take instead, including publishing “on YouTube its internally administered audiovisual livestreams” or releasing “visual and audio recordings of the proceedings at the conclusion of each day.” The coalition argues that the media and public have a “constitutional right of access” to this trial. 

Read the media coalition’s application here