THE latest skit-turned-video-cult-classic from “Saturday Night Live” is Andy Samberg‘ s “I Ran So Far,” and it’s burning up the Internet, bringing well-earned attention to the comedic talent – but it is also leaving NBC’s legal eagles a bit red-faced.
It seems NBC never secured the digital rights to the background music used during the video and therefore couldn’t up load the piece onto its YouTube channel or post it on its own Website.
In fact, the NBC legal team didn’t even know it had a problem until after it sent the short along to YouTube – forcing it to hastily pull it down, according to published reports.
A satirical love song to Iran President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, “I Ran So Far” uses a brief music loop, or sample, of the 2001 Aphex Twin song “Avril 14th.” Aphex Twin, whose real name is Richard D. James, is a pioneer in spacey ambient and drum-and-bass music.
James also samples music himself.
NBC’s digital rights snafu is particularly delicious because it comes after the network and other major television conglomerates bitterly fought YouTube over controlling video content. NBC was protecting its rights but now must follow the rules to protect itself from being sued by James.
Not having the video on its site likely cost the network tens of thousands of hits.
While NBC’s very own legal department has stopped the “I Ran So Far” upload, it hasn’t prevented independent YouTube users from recording and uploading the skit. It is still readily available on YouTube and one of the hottest views on the site.
NBC officials could not be reached for comment. Damon Brown
Loonie tunes
Now that the Canadian dollar has climbed to a level playing field with the almighty American greenback, companies up north are realizing greater buying power. Just last week, Toronto Dominion bank snapped up Commerce Bank for a nifty $8.5 billion – just an example of the newfound buying power of Canadian companies.
The Canadian dollar – affectionately called the “loonie” after the picture of a loon on the gold-colored dollar coin – has taken flight over the past couple of weeks, recently reaching par with its U.S. counterpart for the first time in more than three decades.
Does the recently empowered Canadian dollar mean that Major League Baseball’s Toronto Blue Jays can afford to add some more top talent to its roster?
For every penny the Canadian dollar goes up, the Blue Jays baseball franchise saves a not insignificant $600,000 on its $90 million payroll.
When asked whether the savings would lead the team to shop south of the border for some pricier players, Blue Jays boss Paul Godfrey said no budget has been set for next season.
But he noted that that the Canadian dollar’s steady gains over the past few years have helped the Jays afford to sign Vernon Wells to a seven-year, $126 million contract and A.J. Burnett to a five-year, $55 million contract.
At $90 million, the team’s payroll is up more than 40 percent from 2005’s $50 million.
On Friday, the Canadian dollar reached $1.01 against the greenback and some currency speculators are betting it could climb to $1.10 and beyond.
But even with the loonie’s big gain, the Jays aren’t crazy enough to make a play for powerful Yankee third baseman Alex Rodriguez.
“If the dollar can go to $2, we may consider that,” said Godfrey. “We wish we could afford him, but we don’t have a bottomless pit like the Yankees.” Janet Whitman
business@nypost.com