Broadcasting 'Listed' sports events in the UK: what changes on the horizon?

The listed events regime in the UK has been a hot political potato over the years with various politicians seeking to burnish their credentials by “guaranteeing sports for the masses”. Meanwhile, the UK broadcast regulator Ofcom, whose job it is to enforce the listed events legislation, has been carrying out its own review into the methodology for determining which services qualify to be able to broadcast protected events on the list.

This article will:

1. explore the current changes that are being considered by the regulators and politicians;
2. assess how the listed events regime may be amended in the near future to account in particular for:
   1. the evolving way people watch sporting events, and
   2. the sports and events which may now have to be considered for entry onto the listed events list.