Window of opportunity?

Depending on your point of view foreign satellite TV suppliers are either cowboy operators out to make a quick buck from desperate licensees or the Robin Hoods of the industry - bravely standing up to the bully-boy tactics of the behemoth operator that is Sky.

To be fair to Tony Holman, he does not portray himself as the latter. Instead he regards himself as a businessman who has spotted an opportunity he believes is legal, which could make him money - while saving licensees thousands of pounds.

Holman is a director of Euroview Sport, a company offering licensees the chance to broadcast satellite sport in their pubs at rates considerably cheaper than Sky.

He believes the cards he supplies, which are all sourced from within the EU, are legal due to free movement of goods laws. And he's confident next year's landmark court case on the matter will prove him right.

"Our stance is as long as you have an EU-sourced card it falls within the current agreement and all indicators suggest that the court case will go the way of the foreign suppliers. "There is a window of opportunity now for pubs to introduce it for a year before it goes to court."

However, Holman admits he is disappointed by the lack of take-up of the cards. Only 10 per cent of the pubs he hoped would sign up have done so and he puts this down to the power of Sky.

"I expected to have three or four thousand. I have got about 10 per cent of what I expected because Sky has done a brilliant job of scaring people."

What Holman believes is "scaring" people is the threat of being taken to court for using foreign satellite equipment.

He also believes licensees have been forced into using the equipment because of the prohibitive fees Sky charges.

He argues that if Sky continues with its "oppressive" fees there will be no pubs left. His company also supplies electronic advertising, and he says: "We need pubs to put our digital signage in. If we don't have pubs, we won't have a business."

Licensees have their say

Phillip Taylor​, of the Kings Head in Loddon, Norfolk​, dumped some of his Sky package when the price went up earlier this year.

He still pays £70 a week for horse racing but uses an EU-sourced card for the rest of his sports service. To watch Premier League football and a variety of other sports he pays £280 a year.

He said: "I am not going to have the FAPL tell me what I can or can't do in my own pub.

"It's been a good investment for me. Sky has been in contact and warned me. If they take me to court so be it, I think it is worth it. I am right behind Karen Murphy. I think she will win her case."

Tim Pye​, of the Royal Oak in Blackburn​, uses a European-sourced card because he says Sky is just too expensive.

"It should be perfectly legal as we are in the EU. If I was showing Greek news nobody would have a problem but because it's football there is a huge fuss about it.

"I can't afford Sky - because of the pub's rateable value, it would cost me about £800 a month.

"You do feel nervous doing it because it is a very murky area but I think it is a risk worth taking."

Pete Smith runs the Ravenser Hotel in Hull City Centre​. He subscribes to Sky but says several pubs in the area have been taking advantage of Hull City's Premier League status by showing their games uses foreign satellite cards.

"Pubs across the road are showing Hull City games and they are turning people away," he said.

"I don't resent them for it but I think there should be a level playing field for everyone.

"When the legal situation is clear I will consider it myself but not before. I will wait for the outcome of the court case.

"As far as I am concerned it is illegal and I am not prepared to take that chance."