RYDER CUP

Early day motion 1786, tabled 21 October 2002 by John Grogan (Labour). Signed by 28 members.

That this House congratulates Europe's Ryder Cup golf team on their recent success; notes that the Ryder Cup is the world's third most widely followed sporting event and that the highlights programme on BBC2 attracted a peak audience of between 1.9 and 3.5 million compared with peak viewing figures of between 0.6 and 1.6 million for the live coverage on satellite channels; further notes that the Ryder Cup is a category B listed event which is therefore only available as a highlights feature on terrestrial television; recognises that live Ryder Cup coverage was available on terrestrial television for viewers in the United States; and urges the Secretary of State for Culture Media and Sport to add the Ryder Cup to the list of category A sporting events that would ensure live coverage of the Ryder Cup on domestic terrestrial television at a fair and reasonable cost to the rights holders.

Signatures by party: Labour 18, Liberal Democrat 6, Conservative 1, Labour/Co-operative 1, Plaid Cymru 1, Scottish National Party 1.