BBC 'planning FTA sports channel'

The BBC is planning to launch its own dedicated sports channel, according to a report in the Evening Standard.

The corporation would use the new station to air more coverage of minority sports normally sidelined by the major broadcasters.

Peter Salmon, director of sport, explained: "I really feel the frustration of so many minor sports that are aggrieved that the BBC doesn't want them for more than a handful of hours a year. Can you really build financial support through sponsorship when you have that degree of coverage?

"In the course of the next licence period, there should be a really good debate over the BBC and the diversity of its sports provision - including a specialist channel. I think it would be good for the nation's sporting life and good for the BBC as a public service broadcaster if we were in that business. We have just got to get the proposition absolutely right."

This isn't the first time the BBC has outlined intentions to launch a sport offering. In 2000, it announced it was developing a new service to rival Sky Sports. A year later, a joint-venture with NTL was confirmed that would see a 'British Sport' channel broadcasting footage from the BBC's expansive archives. The plans were eventually dropped.