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Ofcom has received a request from ITV for consent to broadcast live and exclusive coverage of part of the FIFA World Cup Finals Tournament in 2006. This is a group A listed event and is covered by the rules on listed events contained in the Broadcasting Act 1996 (as amended) and the Ofcom Code.

ITV will be showing live a minimum of 33 and a maximum of 35 of the matches in the Tournament. All of these matches will be shown live on ITV1 save for 4 of the simultaneous group matches in the Tournament which will be shown live with free-to -air coverage on ITV2/ITV4. Under the listed event rules Ofcom consent is required for the matches on ITV1 and those on ITV2/ITV4.

Ofcom is inviting other broadcasters, rights holders and interested parties to comment on the ITV request for consent. 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 7 April 2006. Unless confidentiality is requested, all comments will be available to view on Ofcom’s website after the consultation has closed.

Notes

1. Under the rules on listed events contained in the Broadcasting Act 1996 (as amended by the Television Broadcasting Regulations 2000 and the Communications Act 2003) television services are divided into two categories: those which are provided free-to-air and are received by at least 95% of the UK population; and all other television services. The services which currently fall into the first category are BBC1, BBC2, ITV1 and Channel 4. Ofcom consent is needed where a broadcaster providing a service in either category is planning to show live coverage of a group A event or part of an event, and a broadcaster providing a service in the other category has not also acquired the rights.
2. Guidance on the rules and criteria which Ofcom will follow when deciding whether to give consent are set out in the Code on Sports and Other Listed and Designated Events (revised January 2002) which is available on Ofcom’s website in the Related Items, above right.

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