Examination of Witnesses (Questions 1537
- 1539)
TUESDAY 20 DECEMBER 2005
Mr David Morgan and Mr David Collier
Q1537 Chairman:
Thank you very much for coming. This is probably the last Select
Committee of the House of Lords meeting before Christmas. One
can almost feel the heating being turned off! Thank you very much
for coming. We are particularly grateful because I know you have
literally flown in a few hours ago from Pakistan. I am not quite
sure how to put this question but reactions on what has happened
in the series?
Mr Collier: I think we have been outplayed.
I think the Pakistan side has played exceptionally well. What
has been wonderful is to see the intensity and passion for cricket
in Pakistan. It really was a joy to behold. We were in Karachi
at the weekend and the crowd there was quite outstanding. All
credit to the Pakistan authorities and the Pakistan Board. They
have looked after our team exceptionally well. The President was
there at the game yesterday. It really was a wonderful occasion.
Q1538 Chairman:
Good, that is very generous. I hope you are not too jetlagged
for this. We are looking at the BBC Charter process. As you know,
we have already produced one report but we were conscious of the
fact that we had not done some subjects justice of which one was
sport. Thank you very much for your written evidence which I thought
was extremely useful as far as we were concerned, and we have
also, of course, had the benefit of being able to read the evidence
that you gave to the Commons' Select Committee. So we will try
not to jog back over all that because that is already on the record.
For the record, just explain to us, Mr Morgan or Mr Collier, how
important the income from television rights is to cricket.
Mr Morgan: It is vitally important. It provides
80 per cent of our total revenue and that is the situation thanks
to open competition for the sale of those rights. So that figure
speaks for itself; it is vitally important.
Q1539 Chairman:
And the position before BSkyB had the exclusive rights, correct
me if I am wrong with these figures, was that when Test cricket
was still a listed event you received £33.5m from the BBC?
Mr Collier: That is correct.
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