The licensee of a bar in Sunderland has been found guilty of showing Sky Sports at his bar without having paid for a commercial subscription.
- Licensee of Cleo’s Bar in Sunderland will need to pay £7,400 after an investigation by intellectual property organisation FACT.
Kenneth Craigs, the Licensee of Cleo’s Bar in Sunderland, has been found guilty in his absence of two offences related to the dishonest broadcast of Sky.
Craigs was found guilty of showing live football on Sky Sports, without a commercial subscription for Sky. He was ordered by South Tyneside Magistrates Court to pay £7,400 in fines and other costs.
Licensed premises are required to have a commercial viewing agreement with Sky, with the pub version of Sky Sports showing a pint glass in the corner of the screen. The amount in the pint glass changes daily to help inspectors check the pub or bar has the right subscription.
The criminal prosecution was brought by intellectual property protection body FACT.
Kieron Sharp, FACT CEO commented:
“This verdict underscores FACT’s commitment to protecting the interests of our broadcast partners. By taking action against those who engage in fraudulent practices and unlawfully broadcast Sky content, FACT aim to create a strong deterrent for other licence holders who might consider similar actions.”
“Businesses that show Sky Sports illegally can leave our legitimate Sky subscribers feeling short-changed.”
“We actively visit thousands of venues every season to monitor the games they are showing to help protect hardworking Sky customers who are unfairly losing business due to this illegal activity. Venues who continue to televise content in this way are breaking the law, and when caught can face the risk of prosecution.”
By: Marc Thornham | Image: Google Street View/Sky