Rebel footy TV host loses court appeal

An Essex licensee who attempted to ban broadcasting copyright inspectors from his pub has lost an appeal against a conviction for illegally screening a Saturday afternoon Premiership soccer match.

Host Stephen Seager served a legal notice on the Federa-tion Against Copyright Theft (FACT) that sought to pre-vent inspectors, and officials from other media copyright owners, from entering the Anchor Inn at Witham without an appointment.

FACT, however, brought evidence before Witham magistrates last year that led to a £1,000 fine and an order for more than £2,000 in costs against Seager for screening the match, transmitted via a foreign TV station, during the "closed" Saturday afternoon playing period.

But last Friday a judge at Chelmsford Crown Court dismissed Seager's appeal against the conviction and imposed a further £1,900 costs order against him.

Seager argued that he had not been present in the pub at the time and his manager had decided to show the match.

FACT litigation officer Ray Hoskin said: "This case once again confirms that receiving and screening transmissions from foreign stations breaches the Premier League's copyright.

"It is very worrying that equipment suppliers are still telling licensees that these broadcasts are legal."