Sky shutdown denied

[grange]

Sky deny they have launched a clampdown

By Tom Cain and Dave Jones
CUSTOMERS of companies supplying Sky television via a rebroadcast system were left literally in the dark this week when programmes were cut without warning on Tuesday evening.

A major supplier of satellite TV equipment told Costa Blanca News that there was a rumour that BskyB – the supplier of Sky television – was in negotiations with Canal Plus to provide its service in English, but this was denied by Sky spokesman in London, Stephen Gaynor, who told CB News that Sky was not negotiating with the Spanish broadcaster.

He added that Sky was fully aware that many people who legally buy their Sky systems in the UK use them in other countries, which is a breach of contract.

Mr Gaynor said that when Sky is made aware of an individual or company that is using Sky cards or boxes illegally, it would switch them off, but added that the company has no way of tracking where an individual box is, so it can only act when the name and address of a card holder is given to them.

At the time of going to press the reason for this week’s shut-off has still not been explained.

In some areas such as Jalón signals were getting through, while in the Vega Baja, especially Torrevieja and Orihuela Costa, people were still experiencing problems on Thursday.

One rebroadcast supplier in the south Costa Blanca has admitted to customers that they do not have the permission of some UK TV companies to broadcast their pictures.

They have said that they are currently working to establish the necessary contacts with UK providers to guarantee pictures in the future.

Paying customers themselves were up in arms this week after they found that the service they had paid for had broken down.

One viewer said: “We could see this coming because a lot of the channels have been changed recently but I am still very annoyed that I can’t watch Sky Sports at home at the moment, when that is what I paid for.”