Two-Thirds Of Public Want Full Coverage Of Ryder Cup On Terrestrial TV

Two-thirds (65%) of the British public want the biennial Ryder Cup event added to the list of sports protected from exclusive showing on cable and satellite TV, according to the latest findings from CIA MediaLab’s Sensor survey. Last September, the Ryder Cup was broadcast on Sky with only highlights on the BBC.

The findings will add to the current pressure for the protected sporting events list to be modified and coincides with a government-backed review panel investigating adding other events to the list. The list currently comprises: the Olympic Games, World Cup finals, FA Cup Final, Scottish Cup Final, Cricket Test Matches in England, Wimbledon tennis, the Grand National and the Derby.

Even in cable and satellite homes, more than half of all people (56%) feel that the Ryder Cup should be added to the list of protected sporting events, indicating that the sentiment for the preservation of major sporting events on free TV is shared by all viewers.

Anthony Jones, head of CIA MediaLab, commented: “Most people wish to have “free” access to top sporting events through terrestrial broadcasting. Without prejudging the newly formed panel, it would seem that the present government might be more in favour of protecting sports than the previous administration.”

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