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Cricket may return to free live television
Louise Jury, Evening Standard26 Sep 2008
Cricket is at the top of a list of sports that may return to terrestrial television as part of a review into which events should be free to watch.
Culture Secretary Andy Burnham is to look at sports on the "crown jewels list".
The protected events were agreed in 1998 and include the Olympic Games, the FA Cup, Wimbledon tennis and the Rugby World Cup.
But fans have complained about the absence of cricket matches such as the Ashes from the live, free schedules. Mr Burnham wants a debate between fans, sport officials and broadcasters.
Speaking at a Royal Television Society conference in London today, he said the recent Olympic successes showed how sport broadcasting could bring the nation together and build community feeling.
"We need to look again at whether the right sporting events are protected by the list for free-to-air broadcast," he said.
Reader views (1)
Free? We are taxed through the TV 'licence'!
I use Sky, I do not watch programmes from BBC, therefore I pay twice, and no I do not listen to BBC radio either.
- Andy, surrey, 28/09/2008 08:40
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