WARRINGTON people are being urged to join the campaign to keep the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final on free-to-air television.
The government is about to reach a decision and borough council leader Ian Marks believes local people can influence that decision – if they act quickly.
Comments can be made at listedeventsconsultation@culture.gsi.gov.uk
and although the original deadline was this Friday (March 5) it has now been extended to March 19.
People without internet access can write to David Patterson, Listed Events Consultation, 5th Floor, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 2-4 Cockspur Street. London, SW1Y 5DH
Coun Marks told a meeting of the borough council that he had written to Ben Bradshaw, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, expressing concern at suggestions that the RL cup final might be removed from the free-to-air list of major sporting events.
He had received a reply from the Minister for Creative Industries Sion Simon, which congratulated Warrington Wolves on their Challenge Cup success and pointed out that there was a statutory consultation period after which the government would make its decision.
“I urge people to comment in the next few days,” said Coun Marks. It was in November last year that an independent advisory panel chaired by David Davies, the former FA executive director published its report and recommendations to the Secretary of State following a review of free-to-air listed events.
It is understood the recommendations include removing the RL Challenge Cup from the list of “major sporting events” which should remain on free-to-air television.
Picture shows Warrington celebrating after beating Huddersfield Giants to lift the Challenge Cup last August.
3 Comments
Obviously the owners of the game of Rugby League, Sky TV, don’t want the Challenge Cup because they would have had it by now. The orgasmic Hemmings and Stephenson never mention the Challenge Cup on TV…You wouldn’t know it existed if you relied on those two.
Sky TV cannot have the Challenge Cup because it is currently “free to air”, if it comes off the list then Sky would be in for it. There would then be TV money available to more clubs instead of it all going to the Non Relegation League.
Marks and his colleagues should concern themselves with more important matters.
I did not know John Cleese was a Warrington Rugby fan? (first article photo)