Pub boost as Ashes added to free-to-air list
All home matches in the Ashes cricket series between England and Australia should be broadcast on free to air TV, a panel has recommended.
The Davies Report provided a boost for pubs by adding the Ashes to its recommended list of protected sports.
It also said that all England football World Cup or European Championships qualifying matches — home and away — should be available on free to air TV. England's match against the Ukraine last month was only screened online.
It said that "sporting events with a special national resonance should continue to be protected for the widest-possible television audience".
However, the list does need Government approval and is likely to be contested by the English Cricket Board, which sold Sky the rights to screen the Ashes until 2013 after agreeing a £300m deal last year.
The list of protected sports has been simplified into one list — it used to have a secondary lists of protected highlights.
"There is still a place for a listed events regime, but its long-term future in a changing media landscape is by no means certain," the report said.
It recommended the list of protected sports should be:
• The Summer Olympic Games
• FIFA World Cup Finals Tournament
• UEFA European Football Championship Finals Tournament
• The Grand National
• The FA Cup Final (in England, Wales and Northern Ireland only)
• The Scottish FA Cup (in Scotland only)
• Home and away qualification matches in the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Football Championships (listed in the Home Nation to which they relate)
• The All-England Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championship (listed in its entirety)
• The Open Golf Championship
• Cricket's Home Ashes Test matches
•The Rugby Union World Cup Tournament
• Wales matches in the Six Nations Rugby Championship (in Wales only)
The Davies Report "applauded" Sky for "driving innovation" but "urged" it to consider again what may be in the best interests of UK viewers".
Panel chairman David Davies said: "The Panel's task was to look beyond the interests of any one sport, and assess the events that really matter to society in the modern age.
"I believe our report is challenging for the sports governing bodies, the broadcasters and the Government. But unashamedly it puts the viewing public first."
Outstanding news
All Party Parliamentary Beer Group chairman John Grogan said it was "outstanding news".
He said: "If it is implemented it will be a big boost for pubs who can't afford subscription TV and enable them to offer a wide range of sports to their customers."
The recommendations will now be subject to a three-month consultation process before a decision is made.
"I would urge all pubs and their customers to write in and have their say because I think there will be quite a battle to get them through," said Grogan.
