MP meets foreign satellite group
MP John Grogan has claimed that "many MPs" are sympathetic to the aims of a group representing foreign satellite suppliers and licensees using the equipment to screen football in their pubs.
During a reception at the House of Commons for the European Satellite Television Association (ESTA), Grogan congratulated the group for highlighting the issues around premium paid-for TV sport.
Grogan said: "There are many MPs who are sympathetic to the aims of ESTA who would like a much more competitive market."
Referring to Sky's exclusive rights for the Premier League, he added: "We are dealing with very powerful forces." Grogan spoke about the power of the major supermarkets, saying "for years no-one listened".
"Now the supermarkets are before the Competition Commission," he added. "If you are persistent with the issue, you can make progress."
ESTA claims to have 800 licensed premises signed up to its insurance policy which guarantees legal costs in connnection with reception of foreign satellite channels.
Andrew Norris, a lawyer specialising in intellectual property law, also addressed the reception. He set out the current argument over screening football using foreign satellite systems. He questioned why Media Protection Services and the FA Premier League had moved from bringing criminal cases to civil cases.
He also pointed to a case involving a supplier that is set to go to the European Courts of Justice next spring.
The FA Premier League (FAPL), which previously criticised Grogan for hosting ESTA at Parliament, has persistently maintained that it is illegal to screen Premiership matches using foreign satellite equipment.
FAPL spokesman Dan Johnson said recently: "Time and again it has been proved in court that the use of foreign satellite systems to screen Premier League football in this country is illegal and we have launched several prosecutions against the suppliers of this equipment in order to try and cut the problem off at source."
