Group probes Sky screenings abroad
A group representing foreign satellite suppliers has set up a new company to investigate alleged screenings of Premiership games in mainland Europe via Sky.
Media Protection Services (Europe) has been formed to act in a similar way to Media Protection Services (MPS), which investigates screenings of games in the UK using foreign broadcasters.
MPS (Europe) is surveying thousands of pubs and bars in SpainEsta spokesman
The European Satellite TV Association (Esta), which set up MPS (Europe), wants to use any evidence collected to argue that Sky is acting improperly in a bid to challenge its monopoly of Premiership football screenings in the UK.
The news was revealed today at the second meeting of Licensees Against Media Protection Services (LAMPS), an action group formed by around 80 licensees in Bolton.
A spokesman for Esta said MPS (Europe) is "surveying thousands of pubs and bars in Spain".
Meanwhile, Esta revealed it is buying shares in Sky in order to be able to attend the company's general meetings so as to put questions to the supplier.
It is also urging LAMPS members to buy shares.
Bolton host Ken Lord, who heads LAMPS, said three Bolton MPs have been invited to attend today's meeting, along with police and local authority licensing officers.
Brian Iddon, Labour MP for Bolton South, has already written to Culture Secretary James Purnell asking for clarification on the law on foreign satellite screenings.
Phillip Davies, who investigates piracy at Sky, told the Morning Advertiser in March that the screening of Premiership football via Sky at bars in Spain, Greece, France and Portugal was "not something I am aware of".
Sky declined to comment this week.
