Industry group’s aim is to explore issues around energy use and travel in relation to sports production and broadcast.
Environmental sustainability organisation Albert has launched the Albert Sports Consortium, to specifically focus on the impact sports broadcasting has on the environment.
The Albert Sports Consortium includes BT Sport, Sky Sports, BBC, ITV, Sunset & Vine, IMG, Premier League Productions, The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), Formula 1, Aurora Media and Channel 4.
The aim of the group is to align with the goals of the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework in exploring the key challenges and opportunities associated with live sports broadcast, especially in regards to energy use and travel.
The UK Sports for Climate Action Framework will share with the Albert Sports Consortium best practice on initiatives already undertaken, including an on-site power sharing agreement between Premier League Productions, Sky Sports and BT Sport that led to a carbon saving of around 50 tonnes in six months.
As part of the launch of the Albert Sports Consortium, Albert Calculator and Certification tools will be available for the sports industry to measure their impact on the environment more effectively.
Modules will also be created to help inspire and alert sports presenters and commentators to how they can inspire audiences to act for a sustainable future, by incorporating climate-focussed conversations into their punditry and on screen work.
Albert is a collaborative BAFTA, indie and broadcaster backed project. The first meeting of the Albert Sports Consortium will take place on 7 July.
Albert head of industry sustainability, Aaron Matthews, said: “The challenges faced by the television sports community are quite unique when compared to those of our core consortium members, not least because sports producers are at the behest of the sporting calendar and have to broadcast events from all over the world. We wanted to create a separate group that could discuss the challenges they face and work on tailored solutions that can help them achieve net-zero carbon emissions.”
Bethan Evans, broadcast manager at the AELTC, adds: “It is encouraging to see such a strong and influential group of organisations coming together and we are really looking forward to working collectively to share best practice and find ways to raise the bar for the sports broadcasting industry through the formation of the Albert Sports Consortium.”
BT Sport’s lead football presenter Jake Humphrey, said: “Sports broadcasting, like every industry, has a part to play in climate change and today’s news is a positive step. I know how important this is as part of BT’s ongoing efforts to become a net zero carbon business by 2045 and for BT Sport to become the greenest broadcaster in the UK.”
Steve Smith, executive director of content, Sky Sports, adds: “At Sky, we’ve set the ambition to be net zero carbon by 2030, two decades ahead of government legislations, because the world can’t wait. The BAFTA Albert Sports Consortium gives sports broadcasters a forum to work together collectively and share best practices that will help us #GoZero together.”