Listed Events
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what steps she is taking to help ensure that major sporting events such as the Tour de France are available on free to air TV.
Answered by Stephanie Peacock
The current listed events regime is designed to ensure that sporting events of national significance are available to as wide an audience as possible, by prohibiting exclusive broadcasting of the event without prior consent from Ofcom.
The Government recognises the importance of ensuring access to a number of sporting events, including the Tour de France, so that they can be enjoyed by a wide audience.
However, this must also be balanced with the ability of sports bodies and rightsholders to generate revenue to invest in their sports at all levels. Broadcasting rights provide essential income for these organisations.
All rightsholders and UK broadcasters are independent of the Government. In that context, decisions relating to the coverage of particular sporting events like the Tour de France are ultimately a commercial decision. The Government encourages rightsholders and broadcasters to consider the balance between generating revenue and ensuring access for viewers.
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