SPORTING LISTED EVENTS
- Session: 2009-10
- Date tabled: 23.11.2009
- Primary sponsor:
- Sponsors:
That this House urges the Government to support the recommendations of the Davies Committee that the following events be added to the list of the Crown jewels of sport which must be offered to free-to-air television at a fair and reasonable price, namely the Ashes, the football qualifying matches of the home nations in the home nation concerned, Six Nations rugby in Wales, the Open Golf Championship, the Rugby Union World Cup and the Wimbledon tennis tournament; supports the views of the British Olympic Association and the Rugby Football League respectively that the Winter Olympics and the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final should be retained on the list; notes that Deloitte in a report prepared for BSkyB commented on the positive relationship between free-to-air exposure and sponsorship income and that the marketing director of npower has hinted that having the Ashes back on free-to-air television may persuade the company to continue sponsorship beyond its present deals; and further notes that given that all major sports are recipients of substantial sums of public and Lottery money to fund their grassroots, the great national and international sporting events which unite the nation should be freely available on television to inspire all whatever their age or their income.