§ 7. Mr. MullinTo ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what plans she has to encourage BSkyB to invest in programme making; and if she will make a statement. [37929]
§ Mr. SproatBroadcasters will need to invest in programming if they are to attract viewers in the increasingly diverse and competitive television market. The Government have no plans to introduce further regulation of cable and satellite broadcasters.
§ Mr. MullinThat is a disappointing and naive answer. The Minister is surely aware that Sky Television has invested virtually nothing in original programming other than sport and news and has very few plans to do so. Is there not a danger that, ultimately, Mr. Murdoch will drag his television competitors down to the same level as he has dragged his competitors in British journalism? While we are on the subject, the Minister will also be aware that Mr. Murdoch will shortly obtain monopoly access to 451 digital television. I know that the Minister has received strong representations on the subject from the BBC and ITV. Does he have plans to do anything about that?
§ Mr. SproatThe answer to the hon. Gentleman's first question is no. The answer to his second question is that I shall consider the matter carefully in light of what the BBC, in particular, said last week.
§ Mr. Nigel EvansWill my hon. Friend note that Granada Television has become part of BSkyB's package? It launched seven new channels on 1 October— many of the programmes that it makes are made in Manchester, which is good news and a boost for jobs in the north-west.
§ Mr. SproatWhat my hon. Friend says is true: it is good news. We must remember that this country has become the satellite capital of Europe, and we want to keep it that way.
§ Mr. GrocottDoes the Minister agree that any investment in programming by BSkyB would be bad news for the viewer if it was investment to obtain further exclusive coverage of major national sporting events? As he joins me and the rest of the House in congratulating Damon Hill on his magnificent achievement yesterday, will he acknowledge the simple truth that the reason why it was a major event of national interest was precisely that it was available to everyone on television? There would not have been the same interest had the event been confined to an exclusive minority channel, available to a few hundred thousand subscribers. What steps is he taking to ensure that major sporting events remain available for the majority of viewers?
§ Mr. SproatI am sure that the whole House will want to offer tremendous congratulations to Damon Hill on his magnificent achievement.
As for the second part of the hon. Gentleman's question—that matter was debated at great length during the passage of the Broadcasting Bill. The hon. Gentleman will know that the listed events have been protected and that there is now a code that means that any important athletic event, such as the Five Nations, will be shown on free-to-air as well as pay television. I believe that the House reached the right conclusions at the time and we have no plans to change them.
§ Mr. CongdonDoes my hon. Friend agree that cable and satellite television have significantly extended the range and choice of television programmes available to the public of this country? Does he agree that they have provided much extra sport on television and, more important, have ensured that significant extra resources have been made available to sports, particularly football?
§ Mr. SproatMy hon. Friend is right. Access to watch sporting events has greatly increased. The amount of money that has come into the sport will benefit it enormously. Some £700-odd million has been invested in soccer. The rugby deal is still being discussed—£87.5 million is already on the cards—and £40-odd million is to go to cricket.
In answer to the earlier question of the hon. Member for Roxburgh and Berwickshire (Mr. Kirkwood), I hope that a lot of the money will go to youth sport.