§ Mr. Masonasked the Postmaster-General if he will list the national sporting events which are covered by agreement for television purposes by the British Broadcasting Authority and the Independent Television Authority; which other sporting events are subject to financial bidding by the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Independent Television Authority; and what is his policy on coverage of these sporting events by pay television.
§ Mr. BevinsThe B.B.C. and the I.T.A. programme companies have agreed that neither the Corporation nor the companies will seek exclusive television rights in any of the following events:
Pay television licensees will be required to observe the same conditions.
- The Derby.
- The Grand National.
- The English F.A. Cup Final.
- The Scottish F.A. Cup Final.
- Test Matches.
- Wimbledon Tennis.
- The Boat Race.
- The Commonwealth Games, when held in Great Britain.
- The Olympic Games, when held in Great Britain.
Many other sporting events are bid for by B.B.C. and the programme companies but I have no detailed list. Promoters do not always allow broadcasting of their events. Pay T.V. would not be allowed to deprive the general services of a complete category of sport, and I expect the experiment to show what other measures, if any, might need to be taken.