The Conservatives, if they win the election, will cut the "A-list" of protected sporting events that must, by law, be broadcast live on free-to-air television.
The Conservatives, if they win the election, will cut the “A list” of protected sporting events that must, by law, be broadcast live on free-to-air television. Shadow sports minister Hugh Robertson, who last month told BBC radio’s 5 Live Sport he opposed the Ashes returning to free-to-air TV, has revealed that he would “favour a smaller rather than a larger A-list”.
He said:
“We shall have a rigorous economic review of the impact of the Davies’ proposals but we favour a shorter A list of sports that are on free to air and a return to the B list showing highlights packages on terrestrial television.”
Mr Robertson’s remarks were seized upon by culture secretary Ben Bradshaw, who claimed Rupert Murdoch was pulling the strings of Tory TV rights policy, accusing the Conservatives of “dancing to the News International tune”. He said:
“The revelation that the Conservatives intend to take some of our most loved national sporting events off free-to-air television shows that they haven’t changed a bit.
“Events like the FA Cup, the Olympics, Wimbledon, and of course this Saturday’s Grand National are a big part of our national culture and heritage, and having guaranteed terrestrial coverage of them is something the British public values and takes seriously. They shouldn’t have to pay more to see the crown jewels of British sport.
“Sports fans up and down the country will be dismayed by yet another example of the Tories dancing to the News International tune.”
The Tories had previously said they would welcome the publication of the David Davies review into TV sports rights. Shadow culture secretary Jeremy Hunt told the Newcastle Journal last November that the Conservative Party “entirely accepts the principle of a listed events regime”. On the issue of the Ashes returning to free-to-air TV, Mr Robertson had also described the proposals as “very foolish“.
In every other Test-playing country some home international matches are broadcast live on free-to-air TV. In Britain, the last time a Test was broadcast live on free-to-air was the final Test of the 2005 Ashes; the last one day international was the 1999 World Cup Final.
Currently, the only events covered by the A-List are the Olympic Games, the World Cup, the European Championships, the FA Cup, the Scottish Cup, the Grand National, the Derby, the Wimbledon finals, the Challenge Cup Final and the rugby World Cup Final. The events on the “B-List” – where highlights are guaranteed on free-to-air – include home Tests, the Six Nations, the World Athletics Championship, the cricket World Cup, the Ryder Cup and The Open.
43 Responses to “Tories plan to slash free-to-air TV sports list”
Edward Mitchel-Jones
RT @leftfootfwd: Tories plan to slash free-to-air TV sports list http://bit.ly/cWtudb
Mr. Sensible
Mr Mouse, if I may so call you, the BBC makes a lot of its content available to a wide range of the population.
I myself, like you, listen to 5 live often, as well as my local BBC Radio Station; Radio Nottingham.
Whilst I have Sky, there is a lot of people who may not be able to afford it.
And, if you make a sport available to less people, participation inevitably drops.
There was I think less reaction to winning the ashes in 2009 compared to 2005.
Anon E Mouse
Mr.Sensible – Perhaps we should have a public broadcaster that reads out the number of tractors the country has manufactured each month – this is a digital age we are in – shove the BBC on a card and let those who watch it pay for it. Then we may have less reality shows produced and less Eastenders and the like.
The cost of the BBC is excessive and is a tax on owning a TV for which I have already paid VA Tax to buy it and VA Tax on the electricity to use it even if I don’t watch the BBC.
There may be many people who can’t afford to watch sports on Sky but I can’t afford a Porsche or a Merc either. It sounds great and I agree on the numbers watching but where does it say stuff should be free?
Next you’ll be telling me education in this country is no longer free under a Labour government…
Robert
Sports viewing for those who can afford to pay for it?
Politics favouring the few who can pay, not the many who struggle to make ends meet?
This Tory policy stinks.
Ashes Cup
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