Controversy brews over Ashes FTA return

Sports bodies and commercial broadcasters are expected to challenge any initiative to return the Ashes series to the list of protected sporting events on free-to-air television.

A panel of experts led by former FA executive director David Davies will today conclude its ten-month review of the list of events which are ring-fenced for their "special national resonance".

As recently reported, the panel is expected to suggest that the England-Australia cricket series returns to the list in time for the next home tournament in 2013.

The panel also wants all home international football qualifiers to join the Olympics, FA Cup Final and other major events on the free-to-air roster.

On Monday, it emerged that the experts further want to add the entire Wimbledon tournament to the list, along with Open golf and rugby union internationals in Wales.

In turn, the Epsom Derby and rugby league Challenge Cup final will be dropped, and the B-list of protected highlights will be scrapped entirely.

However, various sporting bodies are widely expected to cry foul over the review, predominantly in terms of the millions of pounds in lost revenue from TV deals.

Should the Ashes rejoin the list, then it will anger the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), which views the money gained from TV deals as vital for funding grassroots cricket development in the UK.

Back in 1998, the ECB lobbied for Test matches to be removed from the protected list, which enabled it to agree a £220m TV rights deal with Sky. A further £300m deal with the satcaster will come into force next year, which includes the 2013 Ashes tournament.

However, supporters point to the fact that 7.4 million people tuned in to watch the final Ashes Test at the Oval in 2005 when it was screened on Channel 4, compared to just two million who watched the climax of this year's tournament on Sky.

The low viewing figures could also lead to a potential reduction in cricket's profile among young people as they are unable to watch the national team's biggest moments.

The ECB highlights, though, that free-to-air broadcasters have historically shown a lack of interest in bidding for the rights. In response, the BBC stressed that it cannot compete with the financial muscle of Sky, but instead suggested simulcasting the 2013 Ashes on BBC Sport and Sky Sports as an agreeable alternative.

The English FA is equally expected to object to the review due to the lost revenue from selling TV rights to England football qualifiers.

The sport body has a pressing need for fresh revenue due to the loss of its £150m contract with sports broadcaster Setanta earlier in the year and the need to financially back a bid for the 2018 World Cup.

Following the submission of the review panel's findings, culture secretary Ben Bradshaw and sports minister Gerry Sutcliffe will hold a 12-week consultation to examine the conclusions. It is further expected that any changes will only come into force after the UK digital switchover reaches completion in 2012.