The Broadcasting Act 1996 allows culture secretary Andy Burnham to draw up a list of sporting and other events of national importance, with the aim of giving them the widest possible broadcast coverage. The current list, which includes events such as Wimbledon tennis and the Olympic and Paralympic Games, was compiled in 1998.
Burnham said: "The Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer, when the whole nation came together to watch our fantastic medal success, showed just how important the broadcast of big sports events [free-to-air] is. In a multichannel age, they allow us to share a moment as a country. They also get young people inspired by sport, driving sports participation and the creation of the next generation of sports stars.
"But the sale of TV rights [to pay-TV broadcasters] helps fund grass-roots sport, so we need to get the balance right. We also need to make sure that, in a changing world, the protected list is kept up to date."
The review will cover three main areas; the principle of having a list; the criteria against which events may be listed; and the content of any list itself.
The current list of sporting and other events of national importance is divided into two groups - group A that protects live coverage, and group B, which protects highlights. Davies will now appoint an advisory group that will include sporting, broadcasting and wider business expertise.
The review process will include consultation with broadcasters, rights holders and the public, and is expected to report by the second half of 2009.
The current list of sporting events protected under the Broadcasting Act 1996 is:
Group A (Live coverage must be provided free-to-air)
* The Olympic Games
* The FIFA World Cup finals tournament
* The European Football Championship finals tournament
* The FA Cup Final
* The Scottish FA Cup Final (in Scotland)
* The Grand National
* The Derby
* The Wimbledon Tennis Finals
* The Rugby League Challenge Cup Final
* The Rugby World Cup Final
Group B (Highlights coverage must be provided free-to-air)
* Cricket Test matches played in England
* Non-finals play in the Wimbledon Tournament
* All other matches in the Rugby World Cup finals Tournament
* Six Nations Rugby Tournament Matches Involving Home Countries
* The Commonwealth Games
* The World Athletics Championship
* The Cricket World Cup - the Final, Semi-finals and Matches Involving Home Nations' Teams
* The Ryder Cup
* The Open Golf Championship
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