UK pay-broadcaster BSkyB has used new research to show income from broadcasters is vital to funding grassroots sport, as part of its pitch to a UK government review on televised events.
According to UK newspaper the Guardian, Sky has used the research – commissioned and carried out by Deloitte – as part of a late addition to an independent governmental panel considering which sports should be protected for free-to-air television.
"When you hear people call for Test cricket to be put back on the list of sporting events reserved for free-to-air television, think hard about the potential consequences of restricting competition for rights, because it's that competition which has helped to unlock the potential of UK sport," said BSkyB chief executive Jeremy Darroch in a speech earlier this year.
The Deloitte study found that listing events for free-to-air limits the ability of governing bodies to generate broadcasting revenues and "may place increased pressure on other funding sources to cover potential shortfalls".
The panel’s consultation, led by former Football association executive director David Davies, closed yesterday and will deliver its conclusions by the autumn.
