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7.3 Cultural identity

7.3.3 Other genres - Entertainment and Sport

Consultation published: 21-Apr-2004
Consultation closes: 15-Jun-2004

We have not considered in detail, within this review, the role of Sport and
Entertainment in the provision of public service broadcasting. However, audiences
tell us they believe that it is important for the main terrestrial TV channels
to provide programming in these two genres and we have begun a dialogue with
broadcasting professionals and other interested parties in these areas. For
now, we consider the level of provision by the main channels.

Entertainment

Trends

Across the five main channels, Entertainment programming rose from 83.9 hours
a week in 1998 to 98.4 hours in 2002, although in the intervening years it had
been higher still (Figure 72). In peak-time, 2002 output was below 1998's
at 25.6 hours, compared to 27.4, but again, the intervening years had shown
higher totals (Figure 73).

Figure 72: Entertainment & contempory music average hours per week - all
week

Source: Data provided to Ofcom by broadcasters

In 2002 49% of Entertainment output on the five main channels was first-run
origination, down from 65% in 1998. Of the first run originations 75% of all
hours were produced by the independent sector - in peak this figure was
60%.

Figure 73: Entertainment & contempory music average hours per week -
peak

Source: Data provided to Ofcom by broadcasters

On BBC One, Entertainment in peak fell from 6.8 to 6.1 hours, although it had
been 7.4 hours in 2001. The all hours trend was upwards, from 14.2 to 15.6 hours.
The independent sector took an increasing share of originations - up from
35% to 59% across all hours and from 28% to 46% in peak.

On BBC Two, hours of Entertainment rose both in peak, from 5.2 to 6.7, a 29%
increase, and across all hours, from 10.6 to 14.6 - a 38% increase. The
independent sector's share of originations fell from 65% to 47%.

The amount of Entertainment on ITV1 in peak rose from 5.2 hours in 1998 to
7.7 hours in 2001, but fell back to 6.1 hours in 2002. 91% of this output was
first run origination. Across all hours, Entertainment output rose from 10.6
hours to 19.1 hours - an increase of 80%. Whilst origination also rose
considerably, the proportion of origination fell from 78% to 62%.

Channel 4's output of Entertainment programmes has increased significantly
since 1998, and in 2002 they broadcast 43.2 hours a week of Entertainment programmes,
up from 29.4 hours in 1998. In 2002, Entertainment accounted for 26% of Channel
4's total output. This increase was largely due to Graham Norton being
shown across the week. However, in peak only 15% of the channel's output
was Entertainment, compared with 20% for ITV1 and 21% each for BBC One and BBC
Two.

Five bucked the trend for increasing Entertainment set by the other channels.
The amount of Entertainment shown by the channel fell from 19.1 hours a week
in 1998 to 5.9 hours in 2002. In peak, the volume also fell - from 4.3
hours to 2.0. Entertainment was replaced with Drama, News and General Factual
output.

Sport

Recent Trends

Figure 74: Sports average hours per week - all hours

Source: Data provided to Ofcom by broadcasters

The volume of sport on the five main channels fluctuates according to the pattern
of major events and who holds the rights to them (Figure 74).

In 2002, Sport represented 12% of total output on the five main channels. Output,
at 96.4 hours a week, was 11.8 hours a week higher than in 1998. However this
average disguises wide fluctuations during the year. Spend on sport has almost
doubled over the period, rising from £271m to £512m in real terms,
with a corresponding increase in spend per hour. This increase is primarily
due to the cost of sports rights, which the broadcasters bid for competitively.

Certain events are 'listed' in law as being reserved for the free-to-view
terrestrial broadcasters (Figure 75). This means that they must be available
to be shown on free-to-view terrestrial television, and the rights cannot be
acquired by subscription channels.

Figure 75: 'Listed' Sporting events

Major Sporting Events

GROUP A EVENTS*A28	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	Broadcaster
Summer Olympics			x			BBC
FIFA World Cup Finals	x				x	BBC & ITV
FA Cup Final	x	x	x	x	x	BBC & Sky (2004)
Scottish FA Cup Final	x	x	x	x	x	BBC & Sky (2004)
Grand National	x	x	x	x	x	BBC & Attheraces
Derby	x	x	x	x	x	BBC & Attheraces
Wimbledon Tennis Finals	x	x	x	x	x	BBC
European Football Championships Final			x			BBC & ITV
Rugby League Challenge Cup Final	x	x	x	x	x	BBC & ITV
Rugby World Cup Final		x				ITV
Winter Olympics	x				x	BBC

*:- Live rights must be offered to the terrestrial
broadcasters.

GROUP B EVENTS*	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	Broadcaster
Cricket Test Matches played in England	x	x	x	x	x	C4 & Sky
Non-Finals Wimbledon matches	x	x	x	x	x	BBC & ITV
All other matches in Rugby World Cup		x				ITV
Six Nations Rugby matches involving Home countries	x	x	x	x	x	BBC
Commonwealth Games	x				x	BBC
World Athletics Championships		x		x		BBC
Cricket World Cup		x				Sky
Ryder Cup		x		x		Sky
Open Golf Championships	x	x	x	x	x	BBC

*:- Live coverage on satellite channesl is
allowed as long as highlights are available on terrestrial channels.

 

In addition to the major events, some channels have made various Sports their
own - Channel 4 with Cricket and Horse Racing, BBC Two with Snooker, Five with
Sport from around the world (such as Argentinian football), and ITV1 with Formula
1.

However, no account of sport broadcasting would be complete without mention
of Sky Sports. The Sky Sports suite of channels between them broadcast over
33,000 hours of Sport in 2002 (the majority of which was first run origination),
covering football, rugby, cricket, golf, tennis, boxing, and many smaller Sports.
Sky's spend on Sport is almost 30% higher that of all the five terrestrial
broadcasters put together.

Not only has Sky taken many of the events not reserved for terrestrial broadcasters,
but it has also helped to transform the way the other broadcasters cover Sport,
using new technology and graphics to cover Sport in ever more ingenious and
entertaining ways. The downside is that Sky Sports is only available as a premium
subscription package on cable and satellite. Nevertheless, many millions of
sports fans are happy to subscribe.

In addition to Sky Sports, there are a number of other Sports channels available
on cable and satellite - including EuroSport, Attheraces, Extreme Sports
and specialist channels for particular football clubs, such as Manchester United's
MUTV.

Summary

Entertainment output rose between 1998 and 2001 but fell in 2002 -
possibly because it was being replaced by Factual Entertainment and Soaps.

The Entertainment genre does not appear to be under threat on the main
terrestrial TV channels.

Sports output varies according to the pattern of major events such
as the Olympics and various World Cups

Spend by the five main channels has almost doubled over the period
1998 to 2002 as rights costs have continued to rise

Sky Sports broadcast over 33,000 hours of Sport in 2002 and spent more
than the five terrestrial channels put together.

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