Broadcasting and the voluntary code

The Sport and Recreation Alliance firmly believes that the governing bodies of sport are better placed than government to strike the right balance between audience and revenue.

While every governing body wants to maximise the audience for major events, they also recognise that broadcasting rights are their main source of commercial revenue.

Without a competitive marketplace for broadcasting rights governing bodies cannot secure the best financial return for their sport, thereby undermining investment in grassroots development.

 
Background
  • Since the mid-1990s the Sport and Recreation Alliance has overseen the sports broadcasting voluntary code of conduct for rights owners in relation to the televising of major sporting events. 
  • The code was revised in 2010 when the signatories extended their commitment by pledging to reinvest a minimum of 30% of net UK broadcasting income into grassroots sport (formerly five per cent).
Status
The code outlines the ongoing commitment of the UK’s leading sports governing bodies to the two general principles of:
  1. Accessibility. Ensuring that all major events under their control receive free-to-air television coverage in the UK (live, recorded or highlights).
  2. Reinvestment. Ensuring a minimum of thirty per cent of their net UK broadcasting revenue is put back into grassroots development.
The current signatories are the Football Association, England and Wales Cricket Board, Rugby Football League, Rugby Football Union, Lawn Tennis Association and All England Lawn Tennis Club (joint), UK Athletics, the R&A, the Premier League and the PGA European Tour. 
 
Action
The sports broadcast monitoring committee, administered by the Alliance and independently chaired, will continue to monitor the signatories’ adherence to the Code.
 

For more information contact Simon Butler.

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