Copyright in Sport
Since the public spectacle is something that television can handle really well, the deadlock in the dispute between sports- promoters and the B.B.C. has been a source of growing annoy- ance to the owners of television sets. The promoters believe that the televising of a sporting event must decrease the takings at the gate and expect fees that will counterbalance that. But even if it thought them reasonable, the B.B.C. simply cannot pay many of the fees that are demanded. The Copyright Com- mittee produces in its report a recommendation which, taking into account the likelihood in the not-too-distant future of television performances of sporting events in cinemas and other public places, deals sensibly with the matter and shows the way out of stalemate. The Committee turns down the suggestion that the promoters, should hold the " copyright " in sporting events (a dangerous suggestion, for sport itself would probably suffer if and when commercial television comes into being), but suggests instead the creation of a performing right which would inhere in the televised reproduction, not in the event itself. This would enable the B.B.C. (or other broadcasting authority) to control all television performances outside the private circle, and so to raise the additional revenue with which to meet the claims of the promoters for reasonable compensation.
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