British Sky
Broadcasting is becoming increasingly litigious concerning the transmission of
sporting events at pubs by licensees who are out of their Sky contract or who
have no contract at all. I sat on such a
case about six months ago. It was
difficult not to have a smidgeon of sympathy for the landlord who, single handed
with his wife, was failing in his
attempts to keep profitable a long established public house in an area that is now
bereft of regular trade. He was found guilty and the fine and costs were not
unlikely to have forced him to close the business and get what he could for his
remaining leasehold interest. So it was
with interest that the following came to my attention.
Last year a Plymouth publican was acquitted by local magistrates of showing domestic Sky T.V. without a commercial
contract. However on appeal at the High
Court that judgement was overturned. He
was conditionally discharged with costs of £850. It appears that this case is not ended.
By all accounts
Sky is currently operating a policy of prosecuting all those pubs suspected
of showing its content without a commercial
contract. Of course every case must be
decided on the evidence presented but personally I will attempt to set aside a
few brain cells to remember this one.
