DCMS committee recommends that Six Nations Championship should remain on free-to-air TV
The Six Nations should be designated as a Category A event by the government to ensure it remains on free-toair television, according to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee.
The DCMS committee said it was making this request after the Six Nations Council “failed to give a clear answer” to its questions about whether it had held discussions with government about moving it from Category B.
Category B events can be fully behind a paywall in terms of live coverage, provided highlights are made available on terrestrial
TV. The DCMS committee said the Six Nations Council had confirmed it would allow broadcasters to share rights in the tender process for 2022 onwards, opening up the possibility of a new joint BBC and ITV bid to combat a reported £300 million bid by Sky Sports.
BBC and ITV currently share the live rights.
DCMS committee chair Julian Knight said: “We’re pleased that in response to our letters, Six Nations has confirmed that joint bids from broadcasters are now being considered. When we put this to [outgoing BBC director general] Lord Hall yesterday, he confirmed that the BBC had put in a bid that would involve a sub-licence with ITV.
“We welcome the BBC’S acknowledgement and thanks for the role this committee has played in the debate, including the step we’ve taken to formally request that DCMS Secretary of State Oliver Dowden considers moving the Six Nations from Category B to Category A of listed sports.
“Such a move would ensure the championship remains available via free-to-air channels. We await his response next week.”
This season’s Six Nations suffered further disruption yesterday when Scotland’s match against Wales in Cardiff scheduled for today was called off.
The Welsh Rugby Union insisted yesterday morning that the game would be playedbeforea74,500-capacity crowd at the Principality Stadium despite the coronavirus outbreak. But less than five hours later, the WRU called the game off.
It is the fourth game to be postponed in this season’s Six Nations. Ireland’s games against Italy and France had already been called off, in addition to England’s appointment with Italy in Rome. No dates for rearranged games have yet been announced, although late October is thought to be an option.
The Scotland squad had arrived in Cardiff and trained at the Principality Stadium yesterday. A Scottish Rugby spokesperson said: “While it is disappointing the fixture could not go ahead, there are clearly wider public safety issues unfolding at this unprecedented time. We support the WRU in the difficult decision they have had to make and will continue to have strong relationship with them going forward.”
Had the game gone ahead, Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones would have equalled the world record held by New Zealand’s World Cup-winning skipper Richie Mccaw of 148 Test appearances.
In a statement, the WRU said: “The Welsh Rugby Union has maintained an open dialogue with, and continued to seek advice and direction from, the Welsh government and other stakeholders, including the Six Nations, on this fast-moving issue.
“Whilst medical advice remains consistent, we have decided that it is in the best interests of supporters, players and staff to fall in line with recent measures taken across the UK and global sports industries. Every effort has been made to stage this game, and we appreciate that individuals will have been inconvenienced. Given the fluid and unprecedented nature of this issue, a postponement became the only viable option.”
“We’re pleased that in response to our letters, Six Nations has confirmed that joint bids from broadcasters are now being considered”
JULIAN KNIGHT