- ITC Code on Sports and Other Listed Events
The ITC Code on Sports and Other Listed Events is a series of regulations issued by the
Independent Television Commission which is designed to protect the availability of live coverage of so-called "listed events" in sport — typically major sporting occasions — on free-to-air services (terrestrial television ) in theUnited Kingdom .The origins of the Code come from the Broadcasting Act 1996. Although the
Home Secretary ,Kenneth Baker , had devised a list of events not permitted to be broadcast onpay-per-view services in1991 , the Act required the ITC to create a permanent list of such events. In1997 , the initial list was drawn up, and was revised in1999 , where the Code was divided into two categories, A and B. The Code was further amended in2000 to give the ITC responsibility over UK-based broadcasters wanting to transmit listed events in other countries.In July 2000, a British-based broadcaster,
TV Danmark , challenged the ITC's decision to deny it the rights to five Danish World Cup qualifiers. After having the decision overturned on appeal, the ITC appealed to theHouse of Lords . The Lords found in favour of the ITC, and the decision was upheld.The list is currently subject to a legal challenge by
UEFA [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7438763.stm] .Category A
Category A events are events which must have live coverage made available to free-to-air channels, although pay-TV networks may share live coverage. As of 2000, these events are:
*TheFIFA World Cup Finals (all matches)
*TheOlympic Games
*TheUEFA European Football Championship Finals (all matches)
*TheFA Cup Final
*TheScottish Cup Final (applies to Scotland only)
*TheGrand National
*TheEpsom Derby
*Wimbledon Men's and Ladies' Finals
*TheRugby League Challenge Cup Final
*TheRugby World Cup FinalCategory B
Category B events can be shown on pay TV, provided sufficient secondary coverage (highlights, delayed broadcast, etc) is made to free-to-air broadcasters. As of 2000, the events covered by this category are:
*Test cricket matches played in England
*Wimbledon (excluding the finals)
*The Rugby World Cup (excluding the final)
*Six Nations Championship rugby union matches involving theHome Nations
*TheCommonwealth Games
*The IAAF World Athletics Championship
*TheCricket World Cup (limited to the final, semi-finals, and any matches involving the Home Nations)
*TheRyder Cup
*The Open Championship Home Test matches
The England
cricket team's home Test matches were originally a Category A event. However, theEngland and Wales Cricket Board negotiated for it to be transferred to Category B and subsequently, and highly controversially, sold exclusive live broadcast rights for the 2006-09 home cricket seasons toSky Sports .ee also
*
Broadcasting of sports events External links
* [http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/ifi/codes/code_sprt_lstd_evts/#content ITC Code on Sports and other Listed Events]
* [http://www.ashursts.com/pubs/pdf/1952.pdf TvDanmark 1 Ltd vs. Independent Television Commission - Case Report] (PDF) dead link|date=December 2007
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