The CCPR has been asked by Sports Minister Hugh Robertson to review its voluntary code on broadcasting – which sees up to 5% of revenue from TV Rights going into grassroots sport. (CCPR News)
The coalition government will be keen to have some good news on the funding front at the moment and surely this will be a winner with grassroots sport. The announcement was made as Hugh at the same time killed off the Davies review of Listed Events. This can be seen as the trade off. We leave your TV revenues alone – but now prove you need the money for the grassroots of your sport. I am sure there are many sports that have no worries on this front. But the big battle will be with the Premier League in football. Apart from those who love money above football there can’t be many who think the Premier League should put more into the game it says it loves and promotes.
Hugh has set a high ambition of 30% of revenues going back into the grassroots. I bet the ECB can demonstrate it achieves this. I bet the Premier League cannot. Don’t expect the football world and the FA to be saved any day soon by a 30% windfall from the SKY deals with the Premier League. They will fight this tooth and nail. I bet they end up nearer 8% and a fudge to determining what counts as community or grassroots sport.
Watch this space. And good luck to the CCPR who have been given this job.
View from the Margins 