Department for Culture, Media and Sport
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Consultation published on free-to-air listed events

Consultation published on free-to-air listed events

News Release issued by the COI News Distribution Service on 07 December 2009

A public consultation on free-to-air listed events is published today by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

The consultation seeks views and evidence in relation to:

the principles of retaining a list;what constitutes a major event and how this should be assessed;which sporting events pass the ‘Major Event Test’;the economic and wider impact of listing, and how this should be measured; andwhich events should be listed, taking all these factors into consideration.

The Secretary of State will make his decision on the content of a list when he has taken account of all evidence provided and views expressed as part of a 12 week consultation process, starting today.

Notes to editors

1. The consultation document, published today, can be found at: http://www.dcms.gov.uk/reference_library/consultations/6496.aspx. Responses must be submitted by 5 March 2010.

2. Following a 12 week period of consultation, the Secretary of State will announce the reviewed list.

3. David Davies’ report to Government was published on 13 th November 2009 and can be found at: http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/publications/6434.aspx

4. EU Member states are entitled to draw up a list of events which are considered to be of major importance for society to ensure, so far as possible, that they are broadcast on free-to-air television to the widest possible audience. In the UK the listed events regime is governed by the Broadcasting Act 1996.

Contacts:

DCMS Press Enquiries and Out of hours telephone pager
Phone: 020 7211 6263
Mobile: 07699 751153
NDS.DCMS@coi.gsi.gov.uk

Sandra McKay
Phone: 020 72116267
sandra.mckay@culture.gsi.gov.uk

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