Comment: Sky cracks down on illegal screenings of Sky Sports

Three quarters of Sky Sports pubs say that showing live Sky Sports drives extra footfall, keeps people in the pub for longer and encourages them to return*. It boosts revenue, which is why pubs that show Sky Sports illegally are damaging the industry.

We are committed to taking action against pubs that screen Sky Sports fraudulently. This is to ensure law-abiding publicans who pay for commercial licences are not short changed. Many criminal and civil cases have been brought against licensees for illegally showing Sky Sports .

Here’s a round-up of civil cases concluded in 2018 against licensees from the following sites:​

Big John’s Bar, Strabane - Damages and costs: £47,424

Old Nags Head, Manchester - Damages and costs: £28,988

The Bay Horse Hotel, Leeds - Damages and costs: £26,495

Junction Hotel, Pontefract - Damages and costs: £19,239

The Bridge, South Shields - Damages and costs: £18,889

Muldoons Bar, Belfast - Damages and costs: £14,742

Fourways Pub, Lanarkshire - Damages of £10,000 plus costs

The Ellwyn in Stirlingshire - Damages of £10,000 plus costs

Thistle Tavern, Dunfermline - Damages of £10,000 plus costs

A few of the criminal prosecutions by Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) in 2018:

Casa de Lago, Brighouse - Total fines and costs: £24,331

Park Hotel, Liverpool - Total fines and costs: £19,671

Cleveland Inn, Middlesbrough - Criminal convictions with total fines and costs: £19,200

The Old Ship, London - Total fines and costs: £3,860

A pint glass icon appearing on the screen shows a commercial agreement with Sky is in place. If you suspect someone is showing or selling Sky illegally, you can anonymously report them at www.pubpiracy.com.

We investigate every licensed premises reported , and carry out random and targeted checks across the UK – averaging more than 700 pubs a week throughout the season – showing that we mean business.

* 2016 Preview Readers’ Survey

For further information visit www.pubpiracy.com​