The Government has rejected a call by the Digital, Culture Media and Sport Committee to move the Six Nations Rugby tournament to the Group A category of listed sporting events.
Such a move would ensure free-to-air coverage continues and would effectively block a move to a pay-TV channel who would be less interested without exclusivity.
“It is very disappointing and a real missed opportunity that the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is not even prepared to consider our request,” said DCMS Committee Chair Julian Knight MP. “It would have given fans hope for the future to see a national event that brings people together was being protected for all. That’s a message that becomes even more important in a time like this “
The Six Nations has been free-to-air since 2002 with the rights currently shared between the BBC and ITV.
Negotiations for broadcasting rights for 2022-24 are currently underway.