Licensee fined for illegal Sky screening
A Hertfordshire licensee has been fined £2,515 for using a domestic Sky card to screen football matches.
David Owen of the Phoenix in Hertfordshire was convicted of five offences of dishonest reception of a television transmission with the intent to avoid payment of the applicable charge.
He was also ordered to pay £843.83 in costs.
The chair of the bench said: "Mr. Owen, it is a serious matter. Companies (like Sky) set up to provide a service.
"You were paying but stopped. It's an expensive service but the price is set on the amount of business it (the service) attracts.
"Whether the service is a successful attraction is a business decision for you and you only.
"You must appreciate that over the period of the five matches (offences), if you had paid the fee, we are talking about thousands of pounds (avoided)."
The Federation Against Copyright Theft (Fact) carried out the prosecution on Sky's behalf.
To date it has prosecuted 900 pubs - 200 over the last season with 100 more pending.
"Our aim is to help create an effective deterrent to publicans who endeavour to fraudulently show Sky content on their premises," said prosecuting manager Steven Gerrard.
"As numerous cases have shown we successfully pursue and prosecute dishonest licensees who are then faced with substantial fines, costs and a criminal record."
A spokesperson for Sky added: This case demonstrates the seriousness of this issue as courts continue to deliver considerable penalties to licensees who televise Sky content illegally.
"Sky's ongoing support for Fact in prosecuting licensees who break the law demonstrates our commitment to protecting the interests of our legitimate subscribers."
