United Kingdom

[GB] Revised Sports and Other Listed Events Code Published

IRIS 2000-3:1/15

David Goldberg

deeJgee Research/Consultancy

The Independent Television Commission has recently published its revised Code On Sports and Other Listed Events. In general, the Code gives guidance on matters relating to televising sports events and other events of national interest as listed, from time to time, by the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport. The ITC does so to fulfil its statutory duty under the Broadcasting Act 1996 (Section 104), as amended by The Television Broadcasting Regulations 2000. The Regulations came in to force on 19 January 2000.

Updating the Code was done to incorporate the requirements of Directive 89/552/EC, as amended by 97/36/EC ("Television without Frontiers Directive"), Article 3a para 3. This deals with the reciprocal arrangements that should be in force to prevent broadcasters in one EEA jurisdiction from broadcasting to other EEA states in circumvention of the rules which apply to the rules on listed (or "designated") events which apply in those states. That requirement is applied to broadcasters under the jurisdiction of the UK by Regulation 3 which amends part 4 of the Broadcasting Act 1996, in accordance with the Schedule to the Regulations ("Amendments of Broadcasting Act 1996: sporting and other events of national interest").