BRITISH FOOTBALL HAS LOST £30,000 THROUGH TELEVISION

Wanganui Chronicle, 5 May 1950, Page 5

BRITISH FOOTBALL HAS LOST £30,000 THROUGH TELEVISION

LONDON, May 4 (Ree. 6 pm).—A threat to tan all sports from being televised has resulted in the intervention of the Postmaster-General, Mr. Ness Edwards, into the argument.

He has invited the leaders of nearly 20 sport organisation to a meeting in London on Tuesday to discuss the television of sporting events. They include representatives of the M.C.C., Football Association, Greyhound Racing Association, British Boxing Board of Control and amateur bodies.

The meeting will discuss the possibility of televising a greater number of events.

Opposition to sports television has come from the Association for Protection of Copyright in Sport, represent:ng 94 organisations. It proposed an mmediate ban until the laws of copyright can be reviewed by Parliament. Meanwhile the 8.8. C. has been given permission to televise cricket matches this summer, including test matches between England and the West Indies. The Royaul Ascot race meeting and W’imbledon tennis championships will also be televised. It is reported that the views of those who want the televising of sport to be banned until some ar-

rangement is made for copyright were hardened as the result of the cup final at Wembley last Saturday. The match was televised, and with the spread of television to the Midlands it was estimated that upwards of 6,000,000 people "viewed” the game. One result was that attendances at 38 league matches slumped by about a third, compared with those on the Cup final day last year. In the four leagues it was estimated that the takings dropped by more than £30,000. Special N.Z.P.A. Correspondent.