TELEVISION COVERAGE OF CRICKET

Early day motion 378, tabled 13 December 2004 by John Grogan (Labour). Signed by 43 members.

That this House notes that the Management Board of the England and Wales Cricket Board will soon make a decision on a new television deal to replace the current arrangements, which run out at the conclusion of the Ashes series in 2005; regrets that since 2000 cricket test matches are no longer listed events which must be made available to all viewers on terrestrial television; recalls the assurances given in 2000 by the England and Wales Cricket Board that they would seek to maintain terrestrial coverage in order to encourage participation and allow young and old, rich and poor to view the very best the game can offer; regrets the fact that there was no terrestrial television coverage of the Cricket World Cup in 2003 and is alarmed by reports that Sky may be awarded the bulk of live coverage of test matches; and urges the ECB Management Board and its Chairman David Morgan to safeguard the long-term interests of the game by making a terrestrial television company its broadcasting partner.

Signatures by party: Labour 27, Liberal Democrat 7, Conservative 3, Labour/Co-operative 3, Plaid Cymru 2, DUP 1.