UK government moves to shield World Cup highlights from online paywall

The UK government has proposed new legislation to protect free online access to major sporting events, closing a loophole in the Broadcasting Act 1996 that had left the BBC and ITV at risk of losing live streaming and highlights rights to the World Cup and other crown jewels fixtures.

The Broadcasting Act 1996 requires listed events — including the Olympics, the FA Cup Final, and Wimbledon — to be available on terrestrial television. However, the legislation was written at a time when only 4% of UK households had internet access, meaning online streaming and catch-up coverage has never been covered by the same protections. That gap has left digital rights vulnerable to being sold to subscription platforms.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the proposed changes, set out in a media green paper published this week, would ensure streaming rights for the biggest sporting events must be offered to public service broadcasters. “Due to the late-night kick-offs, so many families are currently following the World Cup by catching up on-demand in the mornings,” Nandy said. “With these changes we are protecting that for the future.”

She added: “This will not only help those broadcasters compete, it will make sure that people never miss out on the history-making sporting moments that bring us together as a nation, for free and however and whenever they choose to watch.”

The proposed rules would prevent live streaming and online highlights of listed events from being placed behind a paywall.

Alongside the World Cup, the UEFA European Championships, the Rugby World Cup Final, and the Grand National would have digital rights added to the scope of the regime under the new plans. Notably, the Champions League Final is not included — it was controversially moved behind a paywall for the first time earlier this year.

A 2022 report by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee had already urged the previous government to review extending protections to digital and on-demand content. Ministers were also called upon at that time to add the Six Nations rugby championship to the listed events regime, though the current proposals do not appear to address that recommendation.