Local MP wants your views on TV events
As part of a 12 week review by the Department of Culture, Media & Sport of sporting and other events that should be broadcast on free television channels, North Cornwall’s MP Dan Rogerson is urging constituents to get in touch with their views.
The Broadcasting Act 1996 allows the Government to draw up a list of events of sporting and national importance, and provide them with the widest broadcast possible. Sporting events such as the Olympics, the FIFA World Cup Finals Tournament and the Grand National are currently covered, but key England football matches and Test Cricket are off the list.
Suggestions of events to include should involve a national sports team in a major international sports tournament that has the potential to encourage participation, or be an event that has special national significance.
Commenting, Mr Rogerson said:
“This is a great opportunity for constituents to have their say on the big sporting events that should be available to them on television at no extra cost.
“People have told me they’re particularly angry that some England football games will now be available only on Setanta sports, which only serves a small minority of homes. And we have already lost England test matches to Sky.
“For all those that want the big international sporting fixtures back on free-to-air television, this is the moment to speak up. Send me your views, and I will forward them on to DCMS. The more individual contributions there are, the more powerful the message.
“From rugby to surfing, sport plays a big role in Cornish life and we must do all we can to be heard.”
Notes to Editors
· Mr Rogerson can be contacted at: 4 Tower Street, Launceston, Cornwall, PL15 8BQ. Tel: 01566 777123. Email: contact@danrogerson.org
· Details of the consultation can be found at: www.culture.gov.uk/freetoair/index.html
· The current list of sporting events protected under the Broadcasting Act 1996 is:
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 (highlights) 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
