Review of CCPR voluntary sports broadcasting code
Hugh Robertson calls for more funding from broadcast deals to filter down to grassroots.
is to review its voluntary code of conduct for sports broadcasting.
About the code
The Code aims to encourage the reinvestment of revenues from television broadcasting rights of major sporting events to community sport. National governing bodies - including the Football Association, the Lawn Tennis Association and the ECB - are signatories to the code.
They currently invest a minimum of five percent of broadcasting rights in youth programmes, community sports facilities, education and training, research and development.
鈥淭he voluntary code of conduct already ensures that tens of millions of pounds are returned to grassroots sports each year,鈥� said CCPR chief executive Tim Lamb. 鈥淭hat makes possible all kinds of community programmes which wouldn鈥檛 otherwise happen.鈥�
Increasing the percentage
, Minister for Sport, would like to see the code changed with the minimum being increased to 30 per cent.
鈥淲hile 30 per cent may sound ambitious, I am optimistic that this can be achieved,鈥� Mr Robertson said. 鈥淣ational governing bodies have a duty to ensure that they have the strongest community structure possible. A thriving grassroots is only going to help the sport at the top end.鈥�
鈥淎ll signatories reinvest significantly more than five per cent,鈥� said Mr Lamb, 鈥渂ut a potential increase to聽30 per cent聽would provide even more of a cast-iron guarantee for grassroots sport.鈥�
Review focus
The review of the code will focus on national governing bodies, but will allow some flexibility for other current signatories such as the Premier League and the PGA European Tour.