Governing Bodies Commit To Free To Air Deal

10 Sep 2015 | tshego

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National governing bodies of a number of the country’s most popular sports have renewed their commitment to ensuring coverage of the UK’s major sporting events will be available on free to air television.

They have also pledged that at least 30% of the net revenue derived from the sale of UK television broadcast rights is reinvested back into grassroots sport.

The national governing bodies of cricket (ECB), football (FA), golf (R&A), tennis (LTA/AELTC), rugby union (RFU) and rugby league (RFL) have all re-signed the voluntary code, first set up in 2009.

This means free to air broadcasters will be given access to highlight packages, at the very least.

The code of conduct was established by the Sport and Recreation Alliance, an umbrella organisation of more than 300 bodies, and it is overseen by the Sports Broadcast Monitoring Committee, chaired by former Channel 4 executive Sir David Scott.

Scott commented: “The Code achieves two important things. First, it makes the best sporting events available to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay. Second, it also makes clear the link between the success of these ‘blue-riband’ events and a healthy participation base by ensuring that at least 30% of the net revenue goes into the grassroots.

“In the last available financial year, sports bodies that are full signatories reinvested at least £135m in grassroots sport as defined under the Code. This represents a significant contribution to the development of their respective sports and reinforces the importance of the Code as a collective commitment by the national governing bodies.”

As well as the seven organisations that have committed to both the TV accessibility and grassroots investment aspects of the code, three bodies have signed up to the accessibility element: golf’s European Tour, the Premier League and UK Athletics.

The agreement follows recent deals that have seen live rights of the likes of golf’s Open Championship move to Sky and UEFA Champions League switch from ITV and Sky to BT Sport, while Eurosport secured exclusive pan-European rights to the Olympics earlier this year.