Blackburn Rovers FC has blamed dwindling attendance figures on pubs using foreign satellite systems to screen closed-period games.
Rovers chairman John Williams held talks with Blackburn MP Jack Straw to express his concern that the use of foreign systems to screen games had led to an average fall in gates of 5,000 over two years.
Straw has since written to the Department of Trade & Industry asking for action to be taken.We have gone up in the league but crowds have gone down. There is no logical explaination.Blackburn FC spokesman Paul Agnew.
WidespreadThe situation highlights how widespread the use of foreign satellite systems has become in pubs in some parts of the country.
"Something has definately happened and we feel it (the increasing number of pubs showing closed period games) is a factor," said Blackburn FC spokesman Paul Agnew.
"We have gone up in the league but crowds have gone down. There is no logical explaination."
Blatantly advertisedFederation of Licenced Victuallers Associations president and Blackburn host Geoff Sutcliffe estimated that more than 50% of the town's pubs now used foreign satellite systems.
"It is rife in Blackburn and blatantly advertised," he said.
"Our advice to members is that it is illegal," added Sutcliffe, of the Rising Sun in Wilpshire. "We can't condone it but I do have sympathy with the licensees.
"I kicked Sky out three years ago because of the cost."
One licensee, who wished to remain anonymous, said that she had used a foreign satellite system last season but had yet to decide whether to renew the subscription.
CostSky would have cost her £1,200 a month, the foreign system cost just £200 for the whole season.I paid a subscription. People go to the pub to watch matches because going to a game is so expensive.An anonymous Blackburn licensee.
"I don't understand how it can be illegal," she said.
"I paid a subscription. People go to the pub to watch matches because going to a game is so expensive."
Lynn Balshaw, manager of the Adelphi Hotel in Railway Road screened Blackburn's away match against Portsmouth last Saturday but has decided now to only screen official Sky games after police warned of a crackdown.
"We get good crowds in for a away games but not really for home games," she said.
"Fans still prefer going to the game."
Do you screen closed period matches in your pub?
Contact us (we will not post your personal details if you prefer) via our contact form marking the subject line with "Foreign satellites"
Your CommentsMartin via email 23/08/2006"How can it be illegal? Which law are the pubs actually breaking?
It appears that the reason attendances are down is because of the ridiculous prices being charged by the premiership clubs. People simply cannot afford to go to the grounds any more. The price of Sky TV has also rocketed so people are going for the cheaper foreign satellite alternative.
If the practice of showing foreign TV is illegal then why has nothing been said about it until recently? People have had foreign TV in this country for 20 years and more and nobody gave a damn.
I suggest that Sky TV and the MPS shut down every kebab shop in London for showing Turkish TV."
Anonymous via email 23/08/2006"I have just taken on a new pub in Warwickshire. The cost per month of Sky would be £490. A foreign satellite system costs me £1,000 in year 1 and £300 subsequently. I do not show any games in the closed period however as I believe it to be fairly well establshed that this is prohibited.
However I also believe that, closed period apart, the use of foreign systems is a very grey area. It is not helped by misleading statements such as that in your article "how widespread the use of illegal foreign satellite systems has become in pubs". I have yet to see one article reporting a successful prosecution which does not revolve around the screening of a game in the closed period. If you can prove me wrong I will happily eat humble pie but until then I am quite happy to take the risk of showing all games outside the closed period."
Richard Elsy via email 23/08/2006"Satellite TV and licensees: It is hard to imagine how anybody's sympathies could be aroused in favour of the Premiership and their overpaid teams, in allinace with Sky charging £1,200 per month, compared with licensees who are constantly facing unrelenting pressure from all quarters in their bid to make a living. Hardly surprising that Jack Straw is siding with the former against the latter!"
ESTA via email 23/08/2006"Foreign satellites" - There seems to be a deliberate ploy here by anyone who benefits from Sky money to try and create a automatic pairing in the minds of people between "the showing of closed period matches" and "foreign satellite systems".
Showing closed period matches between 2.45-5.15 pm in the UK is an infrigement upon certain UK copyright laws and UEFA directives to keep people out watching matches at stadiums, and keep the younger generation out practicing football skills in the park. The FA selected this 3 hour period as their chosen closed period. Perfectly reasonable in our opinion. However, this has very little to do, and is not directly linked with the perfectly lawful ownership and use of a foreign satellite system by publicans round the country."
John Paul Watters via email, 23/08/2006Why dont you explain the law to us. Is it legal or not?
Ed - John, we've always made it clear that it's illegal to show closed season matches, or indeed, publicly screen anything other than Sky, in terms of satellite systems. Suffice it to say that if we took any other stance and someone was prosecuted because of our advice we would be negligent to our readership.
Pub Football via email, 23/08/2006The message is simple. In the interest of the game, do not show matches that kick off at 3pm.
Outside of this you are perfectly within your rights to show matches outside of this period, anyone with a basic level of intelligence will realise that this part of the spin generated by the FAPL PR company. You have a choice that exists outside of sky.
Quite interestingly our company has a letter from the DTI clarifying that the act of the importation is not an offence. Maybe Jack will get as bored as we are, but please guys pull the plug on 3pm football publically, we all need good games to watch after all.
kanel via email, 23/08/2006:I realy dont see the link with the fall at the gates and european satellite systems?
There are a few closed periods in the UK over this season for 3.00 o'clock Saturdays however that is just a time what about 12 o'clock on a Saturday or 5:15 on a Saturday or even on a Sunday no diffrence.
What so ever I don't see the big deal?
What about the comment made last week regarding this issue, I am firmly of the view that these broadcasts are not from the UK.
Nicholas Chadwyck-Healey, solicitor:
Nicholas Chadwyck-Healey "I am firmly of the