England and Wales Cricket Board must justify keeping Ashes off free-to-air TV

The England and Wales Cricket Board will have to prove that free-to-air coverage of future Ashes series will seriously affect its finances and grass-roots cricket structure if it is to avoid its showpiece event being added to the 'Crown Jewels' list.Last month an independent review of the listing system by David Davies recommended that the Ashes be protected for free-to-air television, jeopardising the ECB's increasingly lucrative contracts with Sky, which broadcasts all England Tests on its satellite channels.
On Monday culture secretary Ben Bradshaw, who will make the final decision, demanded that the ECB and other governing bodies affected prove their case in order to avoid seeing the Ashes returned to the list.

Launching a four-month consultation that effectively restarts the debate over listing, Bradshaw said on Monday that he accepted the principle of listing, but wanted to see detailed impact assessments before approving which events should be covered. The process is unlikely to be concluded until mid-March.
The Davies review proposed increasing the list of live events protected for free-to-air viewers using a test of "national resonance. It also recommended simplifying the system by scrapping the B list that protects highlights, in favour of the expanded A list.
As well as home Ashes series, Davies recommended that all Home Nation football qualifiers, the entire Wimbledon Championships, the whole of the Rugby World Cup, Wales's Six Nation matches and the Open Championship be added to the current live list, which also includes the Olympics, World Cup finals, European Championship finals and the FA Cup final.

The proposals were met with united opposition by the governing bodies affected, who all argued that they should be free to sell their rights on the open market.
That argument appears to have influenced the Government's position, with the consultation document making it clear that Bradshaw has not yet reached a conclusion. Pointedly, he accepts only aspects of the Davies review in full, and does not offer an opinion on which events should be included.
He also reserves the right to consider alternative events to those Davies recommended, as well as retaining the B list.
The precise terms of the consultation effectively restart a process that began in April when Davies began hearing evidence, and will prompt a more detailed examination of the financial and social impact of restricting television access to sports than the original review.
Significantly Bradshaw said that he accepts the retention of a list in principle and that the "national resonance" test should be applied.
He has also made it clear that he will consider broader issues such as the availability of pay-TV to "those on low incomes and the elderly", the impact on participation of restricting TV access, and the amount of public money sports receive.
The ECB has argued that its exclusive deals with Sky, worth £550 million over eight years, have seen the expansion of grass-roots and youth programmes override the negative impact of reduced TV exposure. The BBC has not bid for any of the lasts three rounds of live Test match rights.
Bradshaw wants proof of the damage listing would do, and has made it clear that simply demonstrating a reduction in broadcast rights income will not be sufficient to stay off the list.
The ECB welcomed the consultation, suggesting that it would seek recompense from the Government for any loss of income.