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Future for broadcast sports and free-to-air events

This seminar will assess UK sports coverage now and into the future, bringing in competition issues and the possible impact of exclusive digital platform rights.

Discussion will focus on the implications of the soon to be released list of “crown jewel” events that are reserved for free-to-air channels.

Andy Murray’s 4th Round win at Wimbledon this year seemingly united the country in a moment of shared anticipation, much like a World Cup final, or indeed the 2005 Ashes victory, but did last weekend’s victory over Australia lose something by being exclusively on Pay TV with only limited highlights packages available on terrestrial television?

Speakers and Delegates
Barbara Slater – newly appointed Director of BBC Sport – has agreed to deliver a keynote address at this seminar.

Other confirmed speakers include: Chei Amlani, Digital Sports Editor, the Telegraph; Francis Baron, Chief Executive, Rugby Football Union; Andrew Croker, Chairman, Perform Group; Dominic Coles, Chief Operating Officer, BBC Journalism; Mike Grant, Partner, Analysys Mason; Ben Nicholas, Head of UK Sales and Acquisitions, IMG Europe; David Wheeldon, Director of Policy and Public Affairs, BSkyB; and David Zeffman, Partner, Olswang.

Further participants are being approached and we awaiting confirmation of availability.

Overall we expect attendees and speakers to be a senior and informed group numbering more than 100, including Members of both Houses of Parliament, senior government officials involved in this area of public policy, media businesses, their suppliers and their advisors, organisations and individuals representing the views of consumers and citizens, academics and representatives of the trade and national press.

Places have already been reserved by officials from National Audit Office; and UK Trade and Investment as well as stakeholders from industry including Accenture; BBC; Clintons; England Netball; European Broadcasting Union; Formula One Management; Royal Holloway University of London; Mediasmith; and Sovereign Strategy.

Press passes for this seminar are available to and reserved for members of the reporting press only.

A key output of the seminar will be a transcript of the proceedings, sent out within a week of the event to Ministers and officials at Ofcom, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and other departments affected by the issues, as well as Parliamentarians with a special interest in these areas. It will also be made available more widely.

It will include transcripts of all speeches and questions and answers sessions from the day, along with access to PowerPoint presentations, speakers’ biographies, the attendee list, agenda and sponsor information. It is made available subject to strict restrictions on public use, similar to those for Select Committee Uncorrected Evidence, and is intended to provide timely information for interested parties who are unable to attend on the day.

All delegates will receive free PDF copies and are invited to contribute to the content.

The Westminster Media Forum is strictly impartial and cross-party, and draws on the considerable support it receives from within Parliament and Government, and amongst the wider stakeholder community. The Forum has no policy agenda of its own. Forum events are frequently the platform for major policy statements from senior Ministers, regulators and other officials, opposition spokespersons and senior opinion formers in industry and interest groups. Events regularly receive prominent coverage in the national and trade press.

Booking arrangements

To book places, please use our online booking form.

For those who cannot attend: Copies of the briefing document, including full transcripts of all speeches and the question and comment sessions and further articles from interested parties, will be available approximately 7 days after the event.
The publication can be ordered here.

For further enquiries, contact:
Thomas Raynsford
Senior Producer, Westminster Media Forum
Connaught House
22/24 Guildford Road
Bagshot, Surrey GU19 5JN

Direct Line: 01276 489144
Direct Fax: 01276 489231
www.westminstermediaforum.co.uk


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