Listed Events
Sporting and other events of national interest (including the Olympics, FIFA World Cup Final, Wimbledon Finals) that must be available on free-to-air television. Listed in Broadcasting Act 1996, Part IV.
Independent editorial summary — not the official statute text. Read the official version on legislation.gov.uk.
The statutory definition of a listed event comes from the Broadcasting Act 1996: a listed event is a sporting or other event of national interest which is for the time being included in a list drawn up by the Secretary of State. Before adding or removing an event, the Secretary of State must consult interested parties, and the list must then be published so that broadcasters and rights holders are aware of it.
The rules exist to ensure that events of national interest can be watched live and for free by the widest possible audience, rather than being available only on pay-TV. Ofcom's role sits alongside the Secretary of State's: Ofcom maintains a list of 'qualifying services' — television channels that are free-to-view and received by at least 95% of the UK population — and it is broadcast on a qualifying service, rather than the event's inclusion on the Secretary of State's list alone, that determines whether the free-to-air guarantee bites.
Because how people watch television has changed since the regime was created, Ofcom has periodically updated its methodology for identifying which channels count as qualifying services, reflecting the growth of online viewing and viewing on devices other than a traditional TV set.
Example
The FIFA World Cup Final and the Wimbledon Tennis Championships are both listed events, meaning they must be shown on a free-to-air, widely available channel rather than being restricted to a subscription broadcaster.
Related terms
Official sources
This explanation is drawn from the official sources below; every substantive statement is verified against them. For advice on a specific matter, see our find help page.