UK Broadcasters and MPs Advocate for Expanded Free-to-Air Sports Coverage
Public service broadcasters in the United Kingdom are intensifying efforts to persuade the government to broaden the list of televised sports events designated as free-to-air "crown jewels." This initiative aims to ensure that key sporting competitions remain accessible to all viewers without requiring paid subscriptions.
Renewed Push for Legislative Protection
Despite a previous rejection three years ago, when a call from former BBC director of sport Barbara Slater to include the Six Nations Championship in the Group A list was turned down, broadcasters are now collaborating with a group of Labour MPs to advocate for policy changes. The Group A list mandates that events must be offered to terrestrial channels, preventing them from being locked behind paywalls.
BBC and ITV have recently extended their joint broadcasting rights for the Six Nations until 2029, amid concerns that subscription services like Sky Sports and TNT Sport could outbid them. However, with tight budgets, these broadcasters are seeking legislative safeguards to protect their access to major sports events.
Proposed Additions to the Crown Jewels List
In addition to moving the Six Nations from the Group B list—which allows live events to be behind paywalls as long as highlights are free-to-air—to Group A, public service broadcasters are pushing for several other inclusions. These proposed additions encompass:
- Home nations' men's and women's international qualifiers for the World Cup and European Championship.
- One Champions League tie involving a British team from each round of matches.
- The men's FA Cup.
Channel 4, which has significantly expanded its sports coverage in recent years, stands to benefit alongside BBC and ITV. Channel 4 will broadcast the Winter Paralympics next month and has secured exclusive contracts for the University Boat Race and Women's FA Cup this year.
Political Support and Public Benefit
A growing number of Labour MPs are understood to support this initiative, with plans to raise the issue publicly at the culture, media, and sport committee. Private lobbying of ministers is also ongoing. The select committee has not convened for the past fortnight due to parliamentary recess, delaying discussions.
MPs argue that as sports subscription costs rise due to market fragmentation, there is a significant public benefit in ensuring fans can watch national teams in major sports regardless of financial means. Many events targeted for protection are currently available free-to-air, such as TNT Sports sub-licensing 14 FA Cup ties to the BBC each season, but others, like live Champions League matches, are only accessible on paid platforms like TNT Sports, Amazon Prime, and soon Paramount from 2027.
Current Crown Jewels Framework
Listing an event does not guarantee free-to-air coverage, but legislation requires that public service broadcasters be given the opportunity to purchase rights at a "reasonable price" they can afford, preventing outbidding by subscription services. The core Group A events currently protected include:
- The Olympics and Paralympics.
- Men's and women's World Cups and European Championships.
- The FA Cup final and Scottish FA Cup final.
- Wimbledon finals.
- The rugby union World Cup final and rugby league's Challenge Cup final.
- The Grand National and the Derby.
The secondary Group B list, which mandates free-to-air highlights, includes events like the Six Nations, the rest of the Rugby World Cup, the Cricket World Cup and men's Test matches, the Commonwealth Games, World Athletics Championships, golf's Open, and the Ryder Cup.
This ongoing debate highlights the tension between commercial interests and public access in sports broadcasting, with broadcasters and politicians championing broader free-to-air protections to serve viewers across the UK.
