The Independent Advisory Panel for Listed Events, chaired by David Davies, and commissioned by the former secretary of state, has today released a report reviewing the current arrangements and offering recommendations regarding the provision of live or deferred coverage of sporting events on free-to-air television.
In response to today’s announcement Roger Draper, Chief Executive of the LTA, said: “We are extremely concerned at the recommendation that the entire Wimbledon Championships be added to the list due to the negative impact we believe this will have on investment in tennis.
We will be engaging fully with the Secretary of State during the proposed consultation and we will argue strongly that the listing should not be extended if we are to avoid damage to grassroots tennis. Why change the status quo if the only effect of that is to damage the sport by reducing the investment we have available to grow tennis, including to new audiences, and develop British talent?”
All the profits from the Wimbledon Championships are invested, through the LTA – a not-for-profit organisation, in growing tennis and supporting British talent. The Championships are already broadcast on the BBC in a deal spanning the period to 2014.
The LTA is deeply concerned that adding the entire tournament, rather than just the finals as at present, will distort the domestic broadcast market to the point that BBC will no longer have to pay a competitive market rate to cover the event.
The profits from The Championships, £29.2 million in 2009, makes up more than 50% of all income to British Tennis, and any reduction to broadcast income would negatively impact on this investment.