{
  "id": 16929713,
  "title": "MPs call for free-to-air Rugby League World Cup matches",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/28/mps-call-for-free-to-air-rugby-league-world-cup-matches",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-28T17:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "City AM",
    "slug": "city-am",
    "url": "https://www.cityam.com/mps-call-for-free-to-air-rugby-league-world-cup-matches/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "MPs are urging the government to make Rugby League World Cup matches free-to-air and protected for the foreseeable future. This year's tournament, hosted in Australia, is currently being broadcast on a paywall via Premier Sports after the BBC declined to pay for the rights. Jon Trickett, an MP, expressed concern that the pay-for-view format is excluding ordinary kids from poorer families from watching the sport. He noted that many rugby league clubs come from deprived communities and cannot afford pay-per-view TV to see their heroes. Trickett also pointed out that the government has the power to list sporting events for free-to-air broadcasting, and he finds it tragic that the World Cup is not on terrestrial television. The issue comes after Prime Minister Andy Burnham had previously pledged to be a voice for the sport. However, the sport minister, Stephanie Peacock, has so far refused to list the matches under the crown jewel status, which guarantees free-to-air coverage. Currently, crown jewel events under this regime include the FA Cup final, Rugby World Cup final, and the Grand National. Peacock acknowledged the concerns raised before the World Cup and mentioned that the BBC will carry highlights at the last minute. However, she admitted that the coverage was not sufficient and that the government must help balance broadcast revenue and ensure the sport remains accessible to the public. Meanwhile, domestic rugby league faces its own challenges as the southern hemisphere's NRL considers investing in England's Super League.",
  "summary": "MPs have called on the government to make matches at the Rugby League World Cup free-to-air and protected for the foreseeable future. This year’s competition, taking place in Australia, is being broadcast behind a paywall on Premier Sports after the BBC declined to cough up to show the tournament. Jon Trickett MP said: “The problem [...]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}