Pub fightback on TV football
Over 80 Bolton licensees have formed an action group against authorities trying to halt the screening of Premier League football using foreign satellite systems.
At a two-hour meeting with foreign satellite suppliers, hosts formed the group Landlords Against Media Protection Services (LAMPS).
Media Protection Services investigates the foreign satellite screenings of Premier League matches.
What a sad country we are becoming if we can't show a football match on TV - its not like we are robbing houses or beating women upKen Lord, Masons Arms
Licensees decided to take action after three pubs were raided and had equipment seized in September as part of criminal investigations into alleged copyright breaches.
Ken Lord, Scottish & Newcastle lessee at the Masons Arms in Egerton, is leading the group. "My pub was raided and police seized my gear. It made me so angry - I had to do something," he told the morningadvertiser.co.uk.
"I have been around Bolton delivering letters and the group has grown from 12 to 80 at our last meeting. Everybody is fed up with the issue.
"There are so many grey areas. We are launching a website and are pooling together a fighting fund to take this to court. We want a definitive judgement."
Lord has both Sky and Setanta at his pub but wants to show all Bolton Wanderers games. "In our eyes its not illegal. We are paying for a card and a box.
"What a sad country we are becoming if we can't show a football match on TV - its not like we are robbing houses or beating women up. What has happened to our freedom of choice - are we living in a dictatorship or democracy."
Bolton South East MP Brian Iddon has written to Culture Secretary James Purnell asking clarification of the law.
Iddon told the MA that he believes Greater Manchester Police are targeting pubs in Bolton more rigorously than elsewhere.
"I pointed out to James Purnell that the application of the law doesn't seem to be consistent, which seems unfair," said the Labour MP.
"The pressure seems to come from Bolton Wanderers."
LAMPS will meet again on 25 October and have invited police, licensing officers and MPs to attend.
Premier League spokesman Dan Johnson stressed: "The law is clear - every court has ruled the use of foreign satellite systems illegal. We don't want to prosecute licensees week in and week out but where they ignore the warnings and the courts we have no choice."
