Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Leader of the House

Oral Answers to Questions

Damian Green Excerpts
Thursday 9th July 2015

(9 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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John Whittingdale Portrait Mr Whittingdale
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The hon. Gentleman will be aware that we maintain a list of events that are required to be shown on free-to-air television, and the Wimbledon tennis finals are on that list. The non-finals matches are on the B list, which ensures that secondary coverage is protected. It is ultimately a matter for the sport, however, as to whom it sells the rights to.

Damian Green Portrait Damian Green (Ashford) (Con)
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The Secretary of State is obviously well aware of the debate about the effect that taking an individual sport off free-to-air television has on long-term participation in that sport because it does not get the exposure. Is his Department doing any work on assessing the effect that taking live action off free-to-air television has on long-term participation in those sports?

John Whittingdale Portrait Mr Whittingdale
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My right hon. Friend makes an interesting point, but as I have suggested to the hon. Member for Cambridge (Daniel Zeichner), it is a matter for individual sports governing bodies as to whom they sell their rights to, and each governing body will want to weigh up the balance between maximising the revenue that will go into sport and trying to ensure that as many people as possible have the opportunity not just to watch but, I hope, to participate.