Shadow Culture Secretary Chris Bryant has accused the UK government of forcing public-service broadcaster the BBC to the margins of major sports rights bidding.
The BBC is set to enter into talks with US media and entertainment company Discovery Communications to ensure the Olympic Games remain on free-to-air television in the UK after the latter’s pan-European sports broadcaster Eurosport last month secured a landmark rights agreement for the multi-sports showpiece.
Discovery and Eurosport have acquired television and multi-platform rights in 50 European markets for four editions of the Olympic Games, from 2018 to 2024. However, the deal applies to the 2022 and 2024 Games only in the UK, with the BBC already holding a contract for the PyeongChang 2018 and Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Yesterday (Thursday) the BBC joined forces with commercial broadcaster ITV to share the rights to the Six Nations rugby union tournament, preventing pay-television broadcaster Sky from removing another major UK sporting property from terrestrial television. Under the deal, running from 2016 to 2021, the BBC has lost its exclusive rights to the Six Nations, with ITV set to cover the competition for the first time.
Bryant does not expect the BBC’s prospects to improve following the Conservative government’s restructuring of BBC funding, which includes the broadcaster fully funding television licenses for over-75s from 2020-21.
Labour frontbencher Bryant also cited statistics released by the Office for Budget Responsibility that say the reforms will result in a real-terms cut to BBC funding.
He said: “The (Office for Budget Responsibility) says that the shabby little behind-the-stairs deal that you cooked up this week for the licence fee represents another 20 per cent cut in real terms to the BBC. That's not a cold bath, it's a prolonged period in the deep freeze.
“Isn't it the case, when sports rights' inflation is running into double digits, this BBC settlement means you are effectively forcing sport off the BBC? Don't you realise that sport belongs to the fans, not to BSkyB, to BT or Discovery, and the fans will be furious if the BBC can no longer compete for these important sports rights.”
Culture Secretary John Whittingdale responded by stating that existing UK legislation will keep the Olympics on free-to-air television, and that it was a matter to be resolved between BBC and Discovery. He also accused Bryant of ignoring the success of commercial free-to-air entities such as ITV and Channel 4 in securing major rights packages.
“You do seem to ignore the contribution of other public service broadcasters,” he said. “I'd point out to you that every single match of the Rugby World Cup will be shown free on ITV, and Channel 4 has developed their (horse) racing coverage, which is widely watched and admired by many people.”