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Ofcom has received requests from ITV and BBC for consent to broadcast live coverage of part of the Euro 2008 Football Championships.

This is a Group A Listed Event which means that the rights to broadcast live coverage must have been offered to both categories of broadcasters specified in the Broadcasting Act 1996: those providing services which are free to air with national or near national coverage (BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, Channel 4 and Five^(-1-)) and those providing all other television services. The rules which apply are set out in the Code on Sports and Other Listed and Designated Events (revised January 2002).

ITV and the BBC will be sharing coverage of Euro 2008. All of the matches which they will be showing will be on ITV1 and BBC One except for four in the earlier stages of the tournament which clash with other matches on the same evening and which will therefore be shown on ITV or BBC digital channels.

Ofcom is now inviting other broadcasters and other interested parties to comment on the ITV and BBC request. Comments should be sent to Michael Johnson, Ofcom, Riverside House, 2a Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 9HA (email: michael.johnson@ofcom.org.uk) by Friday 25 April 2008. Unless confidentiality is requested, all comments will be available to view on Ofcom’s website after the consultation has closed.

http://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv/ifi/codes/code_sprt_lstd_evts/

Footnotes:

1.- Five was added to the list of Category 1 programme services on 28 March 2008. At the time the rights for Euro 2008 were offered, therefore, Five was a Category 2 service.

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