Division 6

For the purpose of the live broadcasting of listed events the Act defines two categories of television programme services: those television programme services and EEA satellite services which for the time being satisfy the qualifying conditions (the first category) and all other television programme services and EEA satellite services (the second category). The qualifying conditions are defined as (a) that the service is provided without any consideration being required for reception for the service and (b) that the service is received by at least 95 % of the population of the United Kingdom. Television programme services and EEA satellite services which fall within the first category will appear in a list published from time to time by the ITC (see Appendix 2). These requirements are set out in the Act as amended by the Television Broadcasting Regulations 2000. Any contract for televising live coverage of a listed event which is entered into by a broadcaster must state that the rights are available for showing the event on a service falling within only one of the two categories, i.e., separate contracts must exist for each category. A broadcaster providing a service in either category (the first service) is prohibited from showing exclusively live coverage of the whole or any part of a Group A event without the previous consent of the Commission unless a broadcaster providing a service in the other category (the second service) has acquired the right to show live coverage of the event or the same part of the event. The area served by the second service must consist of or include the whole, or substantially the whole, of the area served by the first service. The first and second services may be provided by licensees in the same ownership, but between them they must include a broadcaster in each of the two categories described above.