Tories plan to slash free-to-air TV sports list

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.”

England-Australia-Ashes-celebration-The-Oval-2005 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.

http://twitter.com/jonsharvey/status/11818575455 Jon Harvey

RT @leftfootfwd: Tories plan to slash free-to-air TV sports list: http://bit.ly/cWtudb
http://twitter.com/davereilly/status/11818653240 David Reilly

Tories plan to slash free-to-air TV sports list: http://bit.ly/cWtudb (@leftfootfwd)
http://twitter.com/nissemus/status/11818962719 Mark

RT @leftfootfwd: Tories plan to slash free-to-air TV sports list: http://bit.ly/cWtudb
http://twitter.com/tomtrev/status/11818979418 Tom Trevelyan

RT @leftfootfwd: Tories plan to slash free-to-air TV sports list: http://bit.ly/cWtudb
http://twitter.com/jbuck88/status/11819280282 John

RT @leftfootfwd Tories plan to slash free-to-air TV sports list: http://bit.ly/cWtudb <nooo! It's already all fecking darts & snooker..
http://twitter.com/shamikdas/status/11819551694 Shamik Das

The Tories: For Murdoch, not the many: RT @leftfootfwd: Tories plan to slash free-to-air TV sports list: http://bit.ly/cWtudb
http://twitter.com/leebo/status/11820100608 leebo

Tories plan to slash free-to-air TV sports list: http://bit.ly/cWtudb /via @leftfootfwd / Murdoch influence in full effect
http://twitter.com/ralasdair/status/11820306001 ralasdair

Tories want to get rid of legally free-to-air sport. I wonder why THAT might be, eh Sky!? http://bit.ly/dxiEX7
http://twitter.com/garytomwilliams/status/11820573694 Gary

RT @ralasdair: Tories want to get rid of legally free-to-air sport. I wonder why THAT might be, eh Sky!? http://bit.ly/dxiEX7
http://twitter.com/jamescowley/status/11818534577 James Cowley

RT @leftfootfwd: Tories plan to slash free-to-air TV sports list: http://bit.ly/cWtudb
http://twitter.com/jeffmyers6/status/11820859992 Jeff Myers

RT @leftfootfwd: Tories plan to slash free-to-air TV sports list http://bit.ly/cWtudb
http://twitter.com/ospreypools/status/11821041333 John Cox

Ryder Cup Tories plan to slash free-to-air tv sports list | Left Foot Forward: The events on the “B-List” – where … http://bit.ly/belMt9
http://twitter.com/peterptashko/status/11818809618 Peter Ptashko

“Sports fans up & down the country will be dismayed by another example of Tories dancing to the News International tune”http://bit.ly/9IKoR7
http://twitter.com/sinnaluvva/status/11818831401 Malcolm Evison

RT @leftfootfwd: Tories plan to slash free-to-air TV sports list http://bit.ly/cWtudb
http://twitter.com/tommynorton/status/11818836740 Tommy Norton

well that's just great… RT: leftfootfwd Tories plan to slash free-to-air TV sports list: http://bit.ly/cWtudb
http://twitter.com/ciaranj/status/11821466982 Ciaran Norris

RT @garytomwilliams: RT @ralasdair: Tories to get rid of legally free-to-air sport. Wonder why THAT might be, eh Sky!? http://bit.ly/dxiEX7
http://twitter.com/at_agentorange/status/11819264140 Andrew Tennant

RT @Nissemus RT @leftfootfwd: Tories plan to slash free-to-air TV sports list: http://bit.ly/cWtudb
http://twitter.com/lescromps22/status/11821648091 Les Crompton

RT @leftfootfwd: Tories plan to slash free-to-air TV sports list http://bit.ly/cWtudb
Alan W

Murdoch says jump. Cameron says how high?
Mister Jabberwock

hmmm hold on a minute aren’t you attacking the suggestion that the Tories might be so mendacious that they would have the same policy as labour has had for the last 10 years. Outrageous I say! clearly same old Tories….
http://twitter.com/paulwmk/status/11823294865 paulwmk

RT @leftfootfwd: Tories plan to slash free-to-air TV sports list http://bit.ly/cWtudb
Mr. Sensible

Yet more evidence that Tory media policy is set by News International.

I think that as much sport should be available to the many as possible. The sports governing bodies complain about losing money to put in to the grass routes, but you can have all the grass routes spending in the world, but if people can’t watch the sport participation goes down.
http://edmayes.wordpress.com/ Ed

I would doubt that Sky actually want more rights- there comes a point where even Murdoch would say enough is enough. Sky are making a sizable profit with their current rights so I don’t they would desire any of the events on the A-List unless the price was dirt cheap.
http://betting.betfair.com/horse-racing/events/aintree-grand-national-odds/grand-national-odds-120110.html Grand National watcher

Shocking stuff. There would be uproar if the Grand National went from free to air. Another reason to keep them out.
Anon E Mouse

Mr.Sensible – People can watch their sports – subscribe to Sky. I am forced to pay for the BBC and NEVER watch anything other than News 24 and only listen to 5 Live, R2 and R4. Is that fair?

What worries me is that governments allow companies to invest in and set up companies and products people love, like Sky TV or cell phones – whatever and then start controlling them when they become profitable.

The BBC is a hideously unfair and expensive way to watch sports in this country and various sports would be lost without Sky.

Personally, considering your blog shows your love of sports Shamik, (cricket etc) I find it hard to believe you want to take money, from whatever source, away from the football clubs in this country.

You must surely know how much the smaller clubs and minority sports rely on Sky. Bet you’ve got a Sky Sports subscription yourself….

More Sky – less BBC I say…
http://twitter.com/emitcheljones/status/11830051141 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.
http://twitter.com/1az/status/11836106428 Ashes Cup

Tories plan to slash free-to-air tv sports list | Left Foot Forward http://bit.ly/belMt9
http://twitter.com/petebowler/status/11839701097 Pete Bowler

RT @leftfootfwd: Tories plan to slash free-to-air TV sports list http://bit.ly/cWtudb
evidence based really?

So when Labour took events like the ashes off that was evidence based and progressive?? At the time a deal with Murdoch maybe??

To use the example of cricket, the extra money from not being on the protected list means thats there has millions more for grass routes- often in poorer areas cricket- i thought you lefties were all for that?

Presumably principle goes out the window when there cheap political points to be had.
Anon E Mouse

Robert – “Sports viewing for those who can afford to pay for it?”

You mean like everything else in the world? Have you missed the point about the forced and expensive tax called a TV licence?

Personally I’d like to spend weeks in the Hilton in the Bahamas (preferably with Halle Berry) but I can’t afford it. We are in an election here man – get real please.
Mr. Sensible

“To use the example of cricket, the extra money from not being on the protected list means thats there has millions more for grass routes- often in poorer areas”

‘Evidence-based really?’ I’ve answered that one already. It’s OK saying you can invest in the grass routes ETC, but if it is not available to people to watch, participation goes down, and thus that grass routes investment is effectively wasted.
And what about the extra sponsership?

And Mr Mouse, you cannot just treat sport like it’s a free market, at least if you want good participation to remain stable.
http://ihatedavidcameron.wordpress.com/2010/04/12/murdoch-wont-be-appy/ Murdoch won’t be ‘appy! « I hate David Cameron

[...] last week, Left Foot Forward reported the threat posed to the number of live sporting events available on free-to-air-TV from a [...]
Anon E Mouse

Mr.Sensible – That’s exactly what you’re doing by putting it on the BBC which is taxed via a licence fee. In any event do you not accept what Sky have done for an awful lot of sports – the sports that have benefited certainly do. I would suggest that in professional sports the influx of money, like in the US arena is a good thing….

Essentially you are having a cyclic argument with yourself….
http://www.shamik.co.uk Shamik Das

If sport is to continue to thrive, it must be available to the widest possible audience; it serves a greater purpose than merely lining Murdoch’s pocket.
Anon E Mouse

Shamik – My point is that being forced to pay for a TV licence is unfair.

Rupert Murdoch is simply a businessman whose views you disagree with. Ask the Premier League if they like Murdoch or even better confirm to the blog here that you refuse to have a subscription to Sky Sports…

I pay for the BBC because I am forced to legally. Anyone who has a Sky Sports subscription, including Gordon Brown (except we taxpayers pay for it) chooses to line the pockets of Murdoch by their own free will.

So in the means of transparency Shamik do you watch Sky Sports at home or in pubs or at all?
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2010/04/zac-goldsmith-breaks-ranks-over-tory-bbc-policy/ Zac Goldsmith breaks ranks over Tory BBC policy | Left Foot Forward

[...] last week, Left Foot Forward reported the threat posed to the number of live sporting events available on free-to-air-TV from a [...]
http://sky whatever next

Don’t blame the ‘tories, as this move has been under discussion for many months now and this is under labour. Nothing but a lot of scare mongers
http://sky whatever next

nuff said
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/10/european-court-of-justice-premier-league-tv-coverage-ruling-sky-sports/ No last orders for Sky as sporting stranglehold remains | Left Foot Forward

[...] Shamik Das wrote on these pages last April: “In every other Test-playing country some home international [...]