Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment his Department has made of the role of free to air sport on public participation in sport.
UK Sport studies show the motivational power of sport, with two thirds of the British public saying they have been inspired by the success of our Olympic and Paralympic teams and 40% of these people being motivated to do more sport or active recreation than normal.
Government welcomes the BBC's announcement that it will stream over 1000 hours of extra sport a year. Along with the BBC Connected Sport app, this will allow greater access for fans across the country to view sport. Government also welcomes the decision by Sky to show the final of the 2019 Cricket World Cup on free-to-air television (Channel 4 and More 4), giving millions of viewers the opportunity to unite behind the England team.
Sport England is investing over £1.2bn in grassroots sport over 2016-21 to ensure that there are opportunities for people from all backgrounds and levels of ability to get active.