Department for Culture Media and Sport
sports broadcasting policy
The Government wants to make sure that key sporting events are made available to as many television viewers as possible, particularly those who cannot afford the extra cost of subscription television. This is why some events are protected by law as “Listed Events”.
There are many different sports and sporting events which people feel passionately about. Unfortunately the Government cannot list them all. A listed event is one which is generally felt to have special national resonance. It should contain an element which serves to unite the nation, a shared point on the national calendar, not solely of interest to those who follow the sport in question.
The original list of events was drawn up in 1956 and has been reviewed on several occasions since then. Under current law (Part 4 of the Broadcasting Act 1996) the Secretary of State can draw up and publish a list of protected events. Before doing so, the Secretary of State must first take into account the views of broadcasters, sports rights holders and regulators. The most recent revision of the list took place in 1998 when the then Secretary of State appointed an Advisory Group, chaired by Lord Gordon of Strathblane, CBE, to review the content of the list and to advise him which events should be included.
The law guarantees the availability of rights to live coverage of listed events to broadcasters who meet certain set criteria, i.e. those providing channels which are received by at least 95% of the UK population and at no additional cost to the viewer than the television licence fee. Channels currently meeting these criteria (qualifying broadcasters) are BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, Channel 4 and Five. Five was added to the list in March 2008.
The current list of protected events is split into two categories, Group A and Group B. Full live coverage of Group A events is protected by ensuring that, where offered at all, broadcasting rights must be made available to qualifying broadcasters. Exclusive live coverage of Group B events is permitted on channels which are received by less than 95% of the UK population or which require payment of a subscription (non-qualifying broadcasters) provided that adequate arrangements are made, where sought, for delayed coverage by qualifying broadcasters. This law is administered by the communications regulator, Ofcom.
Ofcom is an independent regulator and has the power to impose penalties, including fines, on any UK broadcaster (except the BBC and Welsh Authority) in breach of the regulations. A Code on Sports and Other Listed and Designated Events, gives guidance on the listed events regime to broadcasters. That code was drawn up by the previous regulator, the Independent Television Commission, but continues to have effect (by virtue of a transitional provision in the Communications Act 2003) as if references in it to the Commission were references to Ofcom.
DCMS is the Government Department with responsibility for the listed events provisions. The law is administered by the independent regulator, Ofcom. The Government believes it is important that broadcasters are responsive to viewers’ and listeners’ comments. If you have not already done so, you may wish to raise your concerns directly with them. You can find Ofcom and main broadcasters details on the industry contacts and links page.
If you require further information please do not hesitate to contact us at 2-4 Cockspur Street, London, SW1Y 5DH or via our Public Engagement and Recognition Unit on 020 7211 6200, email: enquiries@culture.gov.uk .
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The revised list of sports events protected under Part IV of the Broadcasting Act 1996
Group A (Full Live Coverage Protected)
- The Olympic Games
- The FIFA World Cup Finals Tournament
- The European Football Championship Finals Tournament
- The FA Cup Final
- The Scottish FA Cup Final (in Scotland)
- The Grand National
- The Derby
- The Wimbledon Tennis Finals
- The Rugby League Challenge Cup Final
- The Rugby World Cup Final
Group B (Secondary Coverage Protected)
- Cricket Test Matches played in England
- Non-Finals play in the Wimbledon Tournament
- All Other Matches in the Rugby World Cup Finals Tournament
- Six Nations Rugby Tournament matches involving home countries
- The Commonwealth Games
- The World Athletics Championship
- The Cricket World Cup - the Final, Semi-finals and matches involving home nations' teams
- The Ryder Cup
- The Open Golf Championship
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