30 Aug 2008 2:23 PM:TV BLACKOUT TO CONTINUE
BBC and Sky deny transmission rights in Spain
By Dave Jones
THE BBC told CB News this week that no company based in Spain has a licence to show its public service channels.
They stated that it is illegal to rebroadcast these channels in Spain without a licence from them.
The BBC and Sky have both told CB News that companies that do this are breaking copyright laws.
A spokesman for the BBC explained this week that the BBC’s public service channels –BBC1, BBC2 and the digital channels – are produced for broadcast in the UK only.
He added that although European law allows channels that are broadcast in an EEA (European Economic Area) country to be licensed for cable redistribution in another EEA country, the BBC only currently licenses cable redistribution in the Republic of Ireland, Belgium and the Netherlands.
“The BBC’s public service channels are not licensed for broadcast in any other countries,” the spokesman added.
“Our international news channel, BBC World News is distributed in Spain.
“BBC Worldwide’s international general entertainment channel, BBC Prime, is licensed directly to individual subscribers in Spain but is not currently licensed to a cable, satellite or other platform.”
But he added that cable operators in Spain could come to an agreement with the BBC, as they have done in the Benelux countries.
He continued: “If a cable operator wishes to redistribute the BBC’s channels it must enter into a licence with the BBC and other underlying rights holders.
“The BBC can choose whether or not to license the BBC’s public service channels for redistribution in this way.”
BskyB has already stated that it is illegal to receive its programmes in Spain.
A spokesman said: “We authorise the reception of Sky TV in the UK and Ireland only.
“Our terms and conditions expressly prohibit reception elsewhere in Europe.”
BBC Prime clients can use their own equipment to view English programmes with more information available at www.bbcprime.com
It is an encrypted channel and customers need to buy a subscription to receive a smart card which enables them to receive up to 50 channels with BBC Prime being just one of them.
A BBC Prime spokesman added: “Live coverage or highlights of sporting events is not something that BBC Prime includes in its schedules.
“We do not have international transmission rights to the action.
“International rights to the pictures have to be bought on the open market and payment made for European or global transmission.
“Often the international rights are held by a number of different channels with exclusivity clauses for their territory, and so are unavailable to us.”
Also this week the Guardia Civil revealed that the investigation into Costa Blanca rebroadcasting company Telmicro Levante SL remains ongoing.
A Guardia Civil spokesman in Alicante said: “We cannot give any information about the investigation.
“The judge must establish when the investigation is finished and when we are allowed to give information.
“Clients interested in getting information must go to Torrevieja’s court.
“They can present a formal complaint if they have a contract signed with Telmicro and they feel the contract has been broken.
“The judge would then decide whether the complaint is accepted or not and which crime if any the company might have committed.”
djones@cbnews.es
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