Playing under pressure: Sport, public service broadcasting and the British Broadcasting Corporation

Abstract

Using the UK, and particularly the British Broadcasting Corporation, as a case study, this article highlights the difficulties faced by public service broadcasters, who continue to see sports coverage as an important part of their public service remit. Following a brief account of the historical development of sports broadcasting in the UK, the article is divided into two main parts. The first part examines the main challenges faced by the British Broadcasting Corporation, namely a combination of the escalating costs of sports rights and a squeeze on its own finances. The second part of the article then moves on to focus on the continued importance of listed events legislation, which effectively guarantees that certain key national sporting events remain available on free-to-air television via public service broadcasters. The article concludes that ultimately to be able to continue to enhance cultural citizenship through the provision of a range of live sports programming public service broadcasters require more political support.