Sky To Extend Cricket Coverage

The ITC has received a request from British Sky Broadcasting (Sky) for consent to broadcast live and exclusive coverage of the Cricket World Cup in 2003. Rules for television coverage of listed events are set out in the ITC Code on Sports and Other Listed and Designated Events (revised January 2002). Part of the World Cup – the final, semi-finals and matches involving home nations’ teams – is a ‘Group B’ Listed Event. This means that a satellite channel may broadcast exclusive live coverage if highlights or deferred coverage are available on a free-to-air channel with national coverage of the UK (i.e. ITV1, Channel 4, BBC1 or BBC2), or if these channels have been given a genuine opportunity to acquire the highlights or deferred coverage rights. In the case of the Cricket World Cup the ITC understands that none of the free to air channels with national coverage are interested in broadcasting highlights or deferred coverage. Under the Code, in principle Sky may therefore broadcast exclusive live coverage of this event. The ITC is inviting ITV, Channel 4 and the BBC, and any other interested parties, to comment on Sky’s request. Comments should be sent to Michael Redley, ITC Foley Street, London W1W 7TL (or email: [email protected]) by Wednesday 18 December 2002. Unless confidentiality is requested, all comments will be available to view in the ITC information office after the consultation has closed (by appointment only).