World Cup TV 'will be free'

Michael Owen scores for England in the 1998 World Cup

Football fans will not be charged to watch the next two World Cup tournaments on television in spite of attempts to insist on pay-per-view coverage, the government has promised.

I am determined that all viewers in the UK... should be able to watch all live games in the World Cup finals

Culture Secretary Chris Smith

Culture Secretary Chris Smith told the House of Commons his officials had sought an urgent meeting with the German company which has paid £1.5 bn for the rights to the next two finals in 2002 and 2006.

Kirch Sport wants to sell on the UK rights for £170m to the highest bidder, which could include BSkyB and ONdigital.

Under the 1996 Broadcasting Act all games in the World Cup finals must be shown live on terrestrial free-to-watch TV.

European challenge

Many MPs fear Kirch Sport may challenge the legality of the UK law in the European courts.

"I am determined that all viewers in the UK, including those without subscription TV, should be able to watch all live games in the World Cup finals, not just those involving the home teams," said Mr Smith.

10m fans watched Brazil on UK TV in 1998 finals

In the last World Cup, matches involving Jamaica, Brazil and Chile attracted 10 million viewers in the UK.

But the Act could allow Kirch Sport could sell delayed rights to digital television for the 2002 finals in Japan and South Korea, and the 2006 finals in Germany.

Shadow culture minister John Greenway backed the government stance and said pressure should be put on BSkyB not to bid for the games.

Referring to the "listed" events under the Broadcasting Act which must be shown on terrestrial television he said: "We must defend it for the sake of other listed events.

"If this goes what else will be lost?"

Government says World Cup TV will remain free

Under an agreement between football's world governing body, FIFA, and Kirch Sport, only the opening matches, the semi-finals, finals and games involving home teams must be shown for free.

Stretching for a series of football analogies, John Grogan, Labour MP for Selby, asked Mr Smith to ensure that to defend the rights of UK viewers "if it goes into extra time and penalties in the European courts".

Kirch has accused ITV and the BBC of acting as a cartel to drive down the price of the games because they want to negotiate together and no other terrestrial UK television channel can afford the rights.

It questions whether the stance is legal under the Treaty of Rome's competition rules.

The question of live rights in the 2002 finals is further complicated by the fact that many games may start at 3am UK time.

Some MPs questioned whether live rights were as important as the right to show games first.