Pubcos send out foreign satellite warning

Major companies are advising licensees not to use foreign satellite equipment until a definitive ruling on the issue is made in the European Court of Justice.

Despite one supplier claiming he has spoken to a number of pubcos about using foreign decoder cards, Punch Taverns, Greene King and Admiral Taverns have all spoken out against using the equipment.

The matter is due to be settled in the European Court of Justice next year, when licensee Karen Murphy and two foreign satellite suppliers will have their cases heard.

Lynne D'Arcy, Admiral Taverns' chief operating officer, said: "Our advice would be to not take it at the moment and we will wait to see the outcome of the case."

David Elliot, Greene King Pub Partners' managing director, said the company was looking closely at the cases but "do not endorse or support the use of foreign satellite systems in our pubs".

And a spokeswoman for Punch Taverns said: "We would certainly not encourage licensees to go down that route by installing a foreign satellite system or anything that isn't 100 per cent legal."

Ray Hoskin, managing director of Media Protection Services, which carries out prosecutions on behalf of the Premier League, said there were 23 licensees due in court this month facing prosecution over showing foreign satellite football.

"The fact is Karen Murphy, as it stands, remains convicted," he added.

However, Tony Holman, co-director of supplier Euroview Sport, said there were a number of pub companies he had been in contact with who believed there was a "window of opportunity" for licensees to use the systems as the cases were waiting to be heard in Europe.

"It's not illegal until the EU says it's illegal," he said. He also argued that the EU-sourced his company promotes, are legal under the EU's Free Movement of Goods law.