BBC Plans Sports Channel Partnership With Commercial Broadcaster

The BBC is to attempt a fight-back in its ailing sports coverage by launching a commercial sports channel next year. The channel would utilise existing rights and BBC archive material, but funding would come from a partnership with another broadcaster, as it is believed that government approval would not be forthcoming for a sports channel which drained the resources of other BBC activities.

Sports coverage on the BBC has been seen as something of a dying swan in recent years, with blows including the rights to events such as golf, cricket, rugby and football going to the commercial channels with bigger cheque-books and the loss of the ‘face’ of BBC Sport, Des Lynam to ITV. It is thought that targets for the new channel would include reclaiming the right to show England Rugby Union games played at Twickenham, when Sky’s current deal expires in 18 months, and winning back the Premier League highlights lost to ITV in summer (see How The Premier League Will Cash-In On Kick-Offs). It is thought that boxing is already set to return to Grandstand this year, while Ryder Cup golf may also be in the corporation’s sights for the future.

Possible external investors in the venture may include broadcasters ONdigital, Sky, NTL and Channel 4. An announcement is expected by Easter next year, while the first results are due to appear by the following autumn.

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