A group of MPs have recommended that the Six Nations rugby tournament remains free-to-air in a report published today. While the competition is currently on a free-to-air television deal until 2025, it is not included on the “group A list” of sporting events that ensures full live coverage. The Welsh Affairs Committee said that live sports broadcasting should aim to reach the widest possible audience. However, the UK government has said it has no plans to review the list, although it is reviewing whether changing rules for digital platforms “would improve access to these events”. Earlier this month, a UK government minister suggested the list of protected events could be changed if the Senedd called for changes.
The report raised concerns about the potential challenges of streaming and said any short-term injection of money does not benefit grassroots sports, instead leading to reduced awareness of and participation in them. The committee urged the government to add the Six Nations to Group A of the listed sporting events to ensure its territorial TV status. The report is part of a wider inquiry into broadcasting in Wales.
Amazon Prime Video told the committee that broadcasting sporting events on streaming services does not affect viewerships and stated that millions of rugby fans had watched the sport through the service. The report said that broadcasting revenue “has been crucial for Welsh sport, in particular rugby and football” and that the sale of broadcasting and media rights represented 40% and 40-50% of the income of the Welsh Rugby Union and Football Association of Wales respectively.
The MPs also examined Welsh-language broadcasting, urging greater certainty over funding for S4C ahead of a government review of the licence fee model. The report said that IT was “vital” to continue growing Welsh-language broadcasting amid a changing media landscape and called for safeguards to be put in place to protect it
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