Viewers come first - Davies

David Davies is adamant he put the public first after the independent review he led recommended the Ashes returns to free-to-air television as one of British sport's 'Crown Jewels'.

The Department of Culture, Media and Sport on Friday published the recommendations of the inquiry headed by Davies, the former executive director of the Football Association, which included the return of the Ashes to the list of protected events.

"The panel's task was to look beyond the interests of any one sport and assess the events that really matter to society in the modern age," said Davies. "I believe our report is challenging for the sports' governing bodies, the broadcasters and the Government, but unashamedly it puts the viewing public first."

The report also recommended a return of all of England's home and away qualification matches for football's World Cup and European Championships, as well as golf's Open Championship, Wimbledon and the Rugby World Cup.

Three events were suggested to be delisted, with racing's Epsom Derby, rugby league's Challenge Cup final and the Winter Olympic Games among those now vulnerable.

But even though his proposals will have to be ratified by the Government and have been met, in most cases, with widespread criticism from various governing bodies, Davies insists the British public's interests must come first.

The Ashes have 'national resonance', the main criteria to be on the revised list, according to Davies.

Blanket news coverage of England's Ashes victory last summer was behind the move to return home tests to terrestrial TV from 2016, with Sky already contracted to screen the 2013 series.

"On that night in August when England won the Ashes, the BBC One national news was led by cricket, the ITV news was led by cricket, Sky News throughout the day was led by cricket," added Davies. "My only question is if that was not an event of national resonance, what was it?

"I was also uneasy about the fact that millions of children were unable to see it live. We are asking cricket that once every four years, and not until 2016, that 25 days of cricket are free-to-air in one summer."