The ITC Code on Sports and Other Listed Events is a series of regulations issued by the Independent Television Commission which is designed to protect the availability of live coverage of so-called "listed events" in sport — typically major sporting occasions — on free-to-air services (terrestrial television) in the United Kingdom.
The origins of the Code come from the Broadcasting Act 1996. Although the Home Secretary, Kenneth Baker, had devised a list of events not permitted to be broadcast on pay-per-view services in 1991, the Act required the ITC to create a permanent list of such events. In 1997, the initial list was drawn up, and was revised in 1999, where the Code was divided into two categories, A and B. The Code was further amended in 2000 to give the ITC responsibility over UK-based broadcasters wanting to transmit listed events in other countries.
In July 2000, a British-based broadcaster, TV Danmark, challenged the ITC's decision to deny it the rights to five Danish World Cup qualifiers. After having the decision overturned on appeal, the ITC appealed to the House of Lords. The Lords found in favour of the ITC, and the decision was upheld.
Category A events are events which must have live coverage made available to free-to-air channels. As of 2000, these events are: the Olympic Games, the FIFA World Cup, the FA Cup Final, the Scottish Cup Final (applies to Scotland only), the Grand National, the Epsom Derby, Wimbledon Finals, the European Football Championship Finals, the rugby league Challenge Cup Final and the Rugby Union World Cup Final.
Category B events can be shown on pay TV, provided sufficient secondary coverage (highlights, delayed broadcast, etc) is made to free-to-air broadcasters. As of 2000, the events covered by this category are: Cricket Test matches played in England, non-finals matches in Wimbledon, the Rugby World Cup (excluding the final), Six Nations Championship matches involving home countries, the Commonwealth Games, the IAAF World Athletics Championship, the Cricket World Cup (limited to the final, the semi-final and any matches involving UK teams), the Ryder Cup and The Open Championship in golf.
The England cricket team's home Test matches were originally a Category A event. However, the England and Wales Cricket Board negotiated for it to be transferred to Category B and subsequently, and highly controversially, sold exclusive live broadcast rights for the 2006-09 home cricket seasons to Sky Sports.