Chiclanagir

Just seen on another web site that there is a Directive going for its second reading at the European Parliament to allow free movement of TV channels in member states. This should prevent the BBC and Sky blocking the viewing of their programmes in Spain.

spain

at last

Mitzyboy

Are they blocking it?
I get BBC, albeit not all day, via SKY

spain

I think (well Im assuming) Chiclanagir means that people living in Spain will leagally be able to subscribe to SKY ?

valenciatim

The channels are not blocked, just that their licenses do not allow them to broadcast outside of the UK, hence if you tell Sky that you are in Spain, they are legally obliged to block your card. A big enough dish and a free to view card is all that is needed, or a contract at a UK address.
Tim

Mitzyboy

Exactly, thats what I thought ....
At the moment SKY are getting all the revenues from Spanish Expats, but paying no licence fees whatsoever and they can quite happily say "well, we don't have customers in Spain".

In reality, if we all called up SKY tomorrow and told them we were in Spain they would be faced with a real problem, as they wouldn't want to lose the revenue but would be obliged to cut us off. Is this what it would take to make them pay the licence fee?

Chiclanagir

Yes, apparently BBC have reduced their "footprint" whatever that means to try to prevent access. I think like everyone else I would rather pay Sky direct than line someone else´s pocket, who once they have your bank account details can just put their hand into your account and take a "maintenance fee".