The existing framework dates from 1996, when internet access was available in only 4% of UK households, the report says. It protects live free-to-air coverage but does not prevent separate catch-up rights being sold exclusively to subscription services.
That distinction matters. A late-night World Cup match or an Olympics final may be available live without charge, yet a viewer who watches later could face a paywall. The proposed reform is designed to close that gap as streaming becomes a normal part of sports consumption.
The report says the government is not planning to add the Six Nations to the listed-events schedule. That keeps the focus on access rather than a wider rewrite of the competition list.
For organisers, the decision preserves the ability to negotiate commercial deals around events outside the regime. For viewers, it means the proposal would improve catch-up access to existing protected competitions without guaranteeing free coverage of every major tournament.
The balance is clear: protect the biggest national sporting moments while allowing rights holders to retain revenue from events that remain outside the list.
If approved, public service broadcasters would be able to compete for on-demand rights to events including the FA Cup final, Wimbledon finals and the Grand National, as well as global tournaments. That could change negotiations, particularly where live and digital packages have previously been separated.
The immediate test will be whether broadcasters can fund meaningful catch-up coverage and whether rights holders accept lower exclusivity in exchange for broader reach.
The proposed media reforms are expected to face further scrutiny in the coming stages. The next storyline will be whether ministers can turn a policy built for modern viewing habits into legislation without reopening the entire listed-events debate.