Welsh Assembly Member hopeful of fairer Sky prices for pubs in Wales after meeting with David Rey

05-Sep-2012 - Last updated on 06-Sep-2012 at 07:25 GMT

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Llyr Gruffydd: launched a petition earlier this year for reduced Sky prices in Wales

A Welsh Assembly Member (AM) is confident that Sky will consider a fairer pricing scheme for pubs in Wales, following a meeting with the broadcasting corporation’s head of business David Rey.

Llyr Gruffydd, Plaid Cymru AM for North Wales, launched a petition earlier this year calling for Sky to adjust its subscription prices to reflect more accurately the business rate relief enjoyed by Welsh pubs.

The petition has attracted more than 1,100 signatures so far and has received the backing of Wales’s First Minister Carwyn Jones.
Gruffydd believes that the strength of feeling about the issue among licensees in Wales could convince Sky to reconsider its pricing strategy in the country.

“At present Sky charges pubs and clubs according to their rateable value, but we were keen to emphasise the fact that most pubs and clubs in Wales do not pay that full rate due to relief,” said Gruffydd. “This reduced level of payment should, we believe, be reflected in the TV tariff Sky charges its customers.

“Although initially they said there was no way they could treat different parts of the UK differently, I was able to raise the different tariffs charged in Northern Ireland. They were also made aware of the strength of feeling about this matter in pubs and clubs across Wales.

“Mr Rey did say that the matter would be considered at their next review of tariffs and I will continue to press for small businesses in Wales to get a better deal that reflects their ability to pay.”

Sky told the Publican’s Morning Advertiser it could not disclose the details of private meetings.

A spokesperson said: “We are committed to treating all of our customers in a fair and equitable way. As a result, we have no plans to differentiate our underlying pricing model in Britain, which is founded on rateable value.

“Instead, we want customers to enjoy a price that best reflects their individual circumstances, no matter what region they are in.

“That’s why, for example, we’ve recently introduced discounts for food and location, on top of a further annual price freeze.

“As a result, a significant number of pubs have benefited from a reduced monthly Sky subscription.”