The European Commission decided on Monday to accept the British list of events of major importance for society to be broadcast free to air -- either live or with a slight delay.

The list covers not only international events like the Rugby World Cup Final, the Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup Finals but also more specific national events like cricket matches, the Grand National, the Derby, the Ryder Cup and the Commonwealth Games.

"I particularly welcome the confirmation that sport fans in the UK can fully benefit from the principle of mutual recognition for the events of major importance, as warranted by EU's Television without frontiers Directive," said Viviane Reding, European Commissioner for Information Society and Media.

The Television without Frontiers Directive lays down framework conditions in which the public may be guaranteed free access to the broadcasts of events of major importance to society. Each European Union member state is entitled to draw up a list of such events, which must then be broadcast unencrypted even if exclusive rights have been bought by pay-television stations.

On the basis of the principle of mutual recognition, member states must ensure that broadcasters under their jurisdiction respect the lists of other member states notified to the European Commission.