Operators blast lack of action on foreign satellite pubs
26 February, 2009
Publicans want level playing field on the issue
Frustrated pub operators have spoken out over an apparent on-going lack of action against nearby outlets showing foreign satellite football.
Licensees that pay for Sky have contacted The Publican complaining that rival pubs are still showing games via foreign feeds.
The trade is awaiting a definitive ruling on foreign satellite football with a cases pending at the European Court of Justice (ECJ).
Dave Sissons, licensee of the Spinney in Doncaster and chairman of Doncaster Licensed Victuallers Association, said he is losing out financially every time a rival pub uses foreign satellite.
“I’ve been phoning Media Protection Services for five years, but they haven’t done anything about it,” he said. “All my customers are being taken, I reckon I’ve lost £250,000 over five years. Something needs to be done.”
Tony Hailwood, owner of the Ruse Bar, in Borough, South-East London, is annoyed some pubs blatantly advertise they are showing foreign satellite games.
“It’s really annoying because everyone knows where to go. All we want is a level playing field.”
Media Protection Services (MPS), which carries out investigations for the Premier League, says it is currently prosecuting licensees at a rate of 40 a month.
Ray Hoskin, MPS managing director, said: “I have sympathy for pubs that are paying for Sky, but every case is investigated. We have people all over the country and we investigate all types of foreign cards whether they are EU or non-EU.”
In the ECJ case, lawyers representing suppliers of foreign satellite equipment and licensee Karen Murphy will argue the systems should be legal in this country under EU law.
Readers' comments
Whilst i am angry that pubs who target the same customer base as me show "illegal" satelite sport, I have appealed my RV at all my outlets with an 80% success rate - not only a reduction in business rates but an immediate reduction in my Sky subs... a double win.
One thing I forgot to mention in my previous blog is the fact that curently Sky prices are based on the rateable value of the property. Has anybody questioned the legality of this? It seems a questionable practice to say the least. If it is legal then people might wish to follow up the latest 'Beat the Crunch' tip and apply for a reduction in the rateable value of the pub . If successful then obviously this will impact positively upon the premium payable to Sky.
Sasha -it is clear from your comments that you have never run a pub in your life. You state that the pub is showing "illegal footie" - actually that is not the case as everybody is currently awaiting the verdict of a highly publicised court case. Even the Premier League have acknowledged this and have admitted it is "pointless" bringing new court cases until the verdict is announced (Publican 21st Nov 2008). As things curently stand he is only breaking the law if he breaks the curfew and shows the 3pm game. You state that it is "dreadful" that the landlord is not showing Sky and Satanta. Why? The landlord has, like many others concluded that he can save several thousands pounds a year by not showing Sky and given the well publicised problems pubs are currently encountering that can help ensure the survival of the business. I suspect that he like many others is trying to keep his business afloat. You say you "believe" people still smoke there? What does that mean? Have you seen people smoking or are you merely passing on gossip and tittle tattle? If you see people smoke in a pub then ask the landlord to do something about it, if he refuses then report him, it's as simple as that. But please stop whining!!!
Our local Village public house is a joke they have blatently erected a white screen pull down and have illegal footie on we live in a small village and so many people complain about this issue we want to go out to socialise not sit and be made to watch football the landlord gets for free. Our local pub has turned into a den of eniquity over this people even still smoke in there I beleive it is dreadful and the fact they are not subscribibg to satanta and sky is dreadful
i pay for sky and satanta it costs me £1000 a month. the pub 200 yards down the road uses foreigh satellite. I still get a full house on match days we do little promos witch keep our customers happy. you should concentrate on your own pub then you might not lose your customers to those down the road. ps if sky lose the court case how much money will you lose then.
One day common sense will kick in and people will have a competitive market where you can choose which supplier you want at competitive market rates.