- Ofcom Code on Sports and Other Listed and Designated Events
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The Ofcom Code on Sports and Other Listed & Designated Events is a series of regulations issued originally by the Independent Television Commission (ITC) then by Ofcom when the latter assumed most of the ITC's responsibilities in 2003, which is designed to protect the availability of live coverage of so-called "listed events" in sport — typically major sporting occasions — on free-to-air terrestrial television in the United Kingdom.
The origins of the Code come from the Broadcasting Act 1996. Although the Home Secretary, Kenneth Baker, had devised a list of events not permitted to be broadcast solely on pay-per-view (PPV) services in 1991, the Act required the ITC to create a permanent list of such events. In 1997, the initial list was drawn up, and was revised in 1999, where the Code was divided into two categories, A and B. The Code was further amended in 2000 to give the ITC responsibility over UK-based broadcasters wanting to transmit listed events in other countries.
In July 2000, a British-based broadcaster, TV Danmark, challenged the ITC's decision to deny it the rights to five Danish World Cup qualifiers. After having the decision overturned on appeal, the ITC appealed to the House of Lords. The Lords found in favour of the ITC, and the decision was upheld.
Contents
Group A
Category A events are events which must have live coverage made available to free-to-air channels, although PPV networks may share live coverage. As of 2000, these events are:[1]
Association football:
- FIFA World Cup finals (all matches)
- UEFA European Football Championship finals (all matches)
- FA Cup final
- Scottish Cup final (applies to Scotland only)
Horse racing:
Rugby league:
- Challenge Cup final
Rugby union:
Tennis:
- Wimbledon Championships men's and women's finals
Multi-sport events:
- Olympic Games (it is not stated explicitly whether this refers to the Winter or Summer Games, or both)
Category B
Category B events can be shown on PPV, provided sufficient secondary coverage (highlights, delayed broadcast, etc.) is made to free-to-air broadcasters. As of 2000, the events covered by this category are:[1]
Athletics:
Cricket:
- Test matches played in England
- World Cup (the final, semi-finals, and any matches involving the Home Nations)
Golf:
Motor racing
- Formula 1
Rugby union:
- World Cup (excluding the final)
- Six Nations Championship matches involving the Home Nations
Tennis:
- Wimbledon Championships (excluding the finals)
Multi-sport events:
Home Test matches
The England cricket team's home Test matches were originally a Category A event. However, the England and Wales Cricket Board negotiated for it to be transferred to Category B and subsequently, and controversially, sold exclusive live broadcast rights for the 2006-09 home cricket seasons to Sky Sports.
BBC proposal
The BBC unveiled a proposed reordering of the list on 30 July 2009. Most notably, it would create a new category for events that would have to be aired live in their entirety on a free-to-air channel.[2]
List A1
Events that would have to be aired live in their entirety on a free-to-air channel:
Association football:
- FIFA World Cup finals (all matches)
- UEFA European Football Championship
Multi-sport events:
- Summer and Winter Olympic Games
List A2
These events, generally seen as only important to one Home Nation, would have to be aired live in their entirety on a free-to-air channel in that nation only:
Association football:
- FA Cup final (in England)
- Scottish Cup final (in Scotland)
- FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Football Championship qualifiers (in the respective nation)
Rugby union:
- Wales Six Nations and internationals (in Wales)
Multi-sport events:
- Commonwealth Games (in the respective nation)
List A3
This list's definition is identical to the current Category A. Free-to-air channels must air coverage, but it can be shared by subscription channels:
Cricket:
- World Cup final
- ICC World Twenty20 final
Horse racing:
- Grand National
- Epsom Derby
Rugby league:
- Challenge Cup final
Rugby union:
- Rugby World Cup final
Tennis:
- Wimbledon Championships men's and women's finals
List B
These events may be shown on a subscription channel if highlights are made available to a free-to-air channel.
Cricket
- World Cup (highlights of all games must be made available to the free channel)
- ICC World Twenty20
- England home Test matches
Golf:
- The Open
- Ryder Cup
Rugby union:
- World Cup
- Six Nations Championship (highlights of all games must be made available to the free channel)
- British and Irish Lions tours
Tennis:
- Wimbledon Championships
Women's sports:
- FIFA Women's World Cup, UEFA Women's Championship and Women's Cricket World Cup matches involving Home Nations
Proposed revision
On 13 November 2009 a review panel proposed the following revised list and that the Category B list be scrapped. Under these proposals the Epsom Derby, Winter Olympics and Challenge Cup final would be removed from the list.[3]
Listed events
These events would have to be shown live in their entirety on UK-wide, free-to-air television, unless it is otherwise noted:
Association football:
- FIFA World Cup finals
- UEFA European Football Championship finals
- FA Cup final (except Scotland)
- Scottish Cup final (Scotland only)
- All qualifiers for both the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship (matches involving the Home Nations are protected only in the countries that are participating)
Cricket:
- The Ashes (home matches only)
Golf:
- The Open
Horse racing:
- Grand National
Rugby union:
- World Cup
- Six Nations Championship (only in Wales, and only for Wales matches)
Tennis:
- Wimbledon Championships
Multi-sport events:
- Summer Olympic Games
See also
References
- ^ a b [1]
- ^ "BBC proposes free-to-air increase". BBC News Online. 30 July 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/front_page/8175982.stm. Retrieved 2009-07-30.
- ^ http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/media_releases/6436.aspx
Categories:- Sports television in the United Kingdom
- Sports events
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