British Culture Secretary Chris Smith "welcomed a
European Commission ruling Tuesday that allows a protected
list of top national sporting events to remain on free
terrestrial television," according to Mimi Turner of the
HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. While the deal "does not cover such
events as Premier League soccer and Formula One racing," it
"does mean that a government-nominated list of sporting
events deemed to be of national importance, such as the
Wimbledon Tennis Championships and the World Cup soccer
tournament, cannot be sold to pay TV channels." The
Commission's decision "means that certain sporting events
will have to be offered free to British audiences, even if a
foreign broadcaster buys the rights to the event." Smith
called the Commission's move a "landmark" decision. Smith:
"This agreement means that other EU member states are
obliged to ensure that, if their broadcasters buy the
exclusive rights to televise these events in the U.K., they
must give free-to-air channels the opportunity to show
them." Other U.K. sporting events on the government's
protected list include the Olympic Games, the Grand National
and Derby horse races, the Rugby World Cup and the European
Cup soccer tournament (HOLLYWOOD REPORTER, 8/23).
