UK PSBs pen open letter for sports rights protection

News in brief

A group of UK public service broadcasters have published an open letter in The Daily Telegraph saying a media bill is required “to secure the future of British broadcasting and allow it to prosper”.

In particular, the letter said major sporting events, like the Olympics and World Cup, risk going behind a paywall without new government legislation introduced by Boris Johnson’s successor, and “urgent changes are required” if public sector broadcasters are to remain “bedrock of great British content.”

The letter was signed by the director-general of the BBC, Tim Davie, and ITV CEO, Carolyn McCall, as well as heads of Channel 5, STV and S4C.

The letter was not signed by Channel 4, which is facing privatisation under the proposed media bill.