The Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) took action against Melvyn Edwards, the Premise License Holder and Designated Premises Supervisor of the Prince Albert in Wall Heath and Mark Pritchard, the Designated Premises Supervisor of the Rose and Crown in Brierley Hill.
Both men appeared before Dudley Magistrates Court on 16 April. Edwards pleaded guilty to two offences of dishonest reception of a television transmission (a Sky televised football match) without a commercial viewing agreement with the intent to avoid payment of the applicable charge. He was ordered to pay £2,061 in fines and costs.
Pritchard also admitted three counts of the same offence and was ordered to pay £2,003.
Stephen Gerrard, prosecuting manager at FACT, said: “Our aim is to help create an effective deterrent to publicans who endeavour to fraudulently show Sky content in their premises. People found to be showing Sky in commercial premises without having entered into the correct commercial subscription agreement with Sky face criminal prosecution, costs and potential loss of their licence.”
Alison Dolan, deputy managing director at Sky Business, said: “These cases reinforce our message that Sky will continue to support FACT in prosecuting licensees who break the law as part of our commitment to helping protect the thousands of hardworking licensees who invest in Sky Sports to drive value for their businesses.”
There have been more than 1,500 similar prosecutions to date; and hundreds of further cases in the pipeline.