Williamson Co. cans TV deal with Live PD

SAN ANTONIO (Texas News Radio) — Williamson County has decided to end its partnership with A&E television show Live PD.

The Austin American-Statesman reports the Williamson County Commissioners Court voted unanimously Tuesday to cancel its contract with the television show.

There was no discussion before the vote.

Part of the issue prompting the cancellation was the ownership of the video produced by the show’s production company, Big Fish Entertainment.  The contract stated Big Fish Entertainment owned the rights to the footage and would destroy it within 30 days.

Williamson County district attorney Shawn Dick has criticized that aspect of the contract.  County defense lawyers joined him in arguing that the footage should be preserved to help investigations.

The county had renewed its agreement with the show in May, despite concerns by some commissioners who felt the show portrayed the area as being more dangerous than it was.