Crackdown on Mesh / Rebroadcasting Systems

[satandpcguy]

It has been reported on several websites that Sky subscription channels have or are int he process of being removed from the rebroadcasting systems. This is most likely due to the fact that they do not and have never hadthe legal right to rebroadcast pay / subscription channels. I understand that they are replacing these Sky channels with some less popular and european channels.
It is unknow if BBC or ITV or C4 or Five will have their channels removed, but as the service they provide is illegal it could only be a matter of time.
The safest way to ensure you have Sky subscription channels is to get a dish and pay for it directly to Sky.

[satandpcguy]

this was posted on another forum...i think it has been snipped from a local newspaper

Several of the most widely used mesh / mmds / rebroadcasting TV companies have been 'forced' to remove Sky Sports and other popular channels from their schedules. The company and was told that they are unable to show specific channels, including Sky Sports, due to new legislation that has just been enforced. A company representative said; "We would be breaking the law if we showed these channels but we will be replacing all these channels with alternatives very soon." They continued; "This is not just a Telmicro Levante problem; all companies who provide British channels through their rebroadcasting systems will be affected. We are all in the same situation."

LEGISLATION
There are still some companies airing Sky Sports and the other channels that have disappeared from Telmicro Levante's schedules but according to a source at the Ministry of Telecommunications, these too will have this legislation enforced upon them. It appears that Telmicro Levante S.L. and the other British TV companies have been providing nearly half a million expats here in Spain with Sky television channels without the permission of Sky. The act of re-broadcasting these channels for gain is considered an act of piracy and copyright theft, unless you have agreements to re-broadcast. In fact, Sky can only legally be transmitted in the UK and Ireland. This crack down is going to affect all providers of re-transmission of the Sky subscription channels. This should not affect anyone who has their own satellite dish, sky digital receiver and official Sky digital card. However, let us warn you that if you do have a Sky card, your contract only applies when you are living in the UK and Sky will cancel your card immediately if they find out that you are using your box in Spain.

Complaints
Broadband Costa Blanca S.L, who has been installing Satellite systems along the Costa Blanca for 15 years, issued a statement saying; "Further investigation into why Sky was pulled from re-broadcasters not just here but in the Northern Costa Blanca revealed that action was taken by Canal Digital and that all the companies involved had known about this for some time. Their main complaints were over the showing of football and films, the rights for which they had paid to show in Spain." Many people are furious because they have, just last month, paid their yearly subscription for a TV package that is no longer available. One reader had their system fitted just a week before the channels were turned off. He told us; "I had Telmicro Levante S.L. install a TV package just last week, at a cost of 490 euros, plus an additional 192 euros annual advance fees. However, the package I was sold, i.e: Sky Sports 1, 2, 3; EuroSport, Sky Movies etc, are no longer available." He continued; "I have been in contact with the installer and requested our money back, saying we had been mis-sold the package deal, but they did not come forward with the money. So now, we are left with approximately 10 channels unavailable to us from the 52 channels advertised by the company."

Hope
Another reader, who has knowledge of the business, warns expats not to go and get another supplier. He said; "If you change your provider now then you may be throwing your money away as there is no way of knowing when they will also be switched off." There is hope though for all you bereft football and film fans. Telmicro Levante S.L. were announcing new channels including Nickelodeon, MTV Hits and VH1 Classics to their package and have promised that more are on the way.