Sky hits back over BBC sports bid

Sky TV last night dismissed BBC suggestions that the Government should increase the number of "blue riband" sports events screened live on terrestrial channels.

BBC chiefs met officials from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport yesterday and urged them to add football's European Championships, Commonwealth Games held in the United Kingdom, the Five Nations Championship and the Ryder Cup to the list of events only available on terrestrial television.

But a spokeswoman for Sky said: "We always welcome an opportunity to put our points across about listed sports events and what Sky can contribute to sport in general. We obviously talk to all influential bodies and we feel we have got an incredibly strong case to make in view of what we have done over the last five years and the revolution in sport and broadcasting."

Satellite channels are prevented from bidding for eight "crown jewels" events - the World Cup, the English and Scottish FA Cup finals, the Olympics, Wimbledon, the Grand National, the Derby and domestic cricket Tests.