Llanymynech pub fined for Sky Sports piracy
June 3, 2026
By Colin Mann
A pub landlord has been ordered to pay £19,000 (€22,000) after being convicted for showing Sky Sports without a commercial subscription.
John Peter Turner, the licensee of the Dolphin Inn pub in Llanymynech, on the Powys/Shropshire border in Wales, was found guilty in his absence of two offences in relation to the dishonest broadcast of Sky televised programming at Mold Magistrates Court on June 2nd.
Copyright enforcement organisation FACT, which led the prosecution, said that Turner aired Sky Sports football matches with the intent to avoid payment of the applicable commercial subscription charge. Sky Sports content is only available to licensed premises in the UK via authorised commercial viewing agreements.
FACT confirmed that it investigated and brought the criminal prosecution against Turner, adding that the proceedings determined that the licensee had broadcast Sky Sports football matches without a legitimate commercial viewing agreement, aiming to avoid payment of the relevant commercial subscription fee.
Turner was ordered to pay £19,000 in total: two separate fines of £2,500, a £2,000 victim surcharge, and £12,000 costs.
According to FACT, business premises that show Sky broadcasts without a commercial viewing agreement risk facing similar action or potential civil legal proceedings.
Nick Sumner, investigations manager at FACT, said: “Pubs and licensed premises that show Sky Sports without the correct commercial viewing agreement are breaking the law and gaining an unfair advantage over businesses that pay properly. This prosecution should serve as a clear warning. FACT will continue to work closely with Sky Business to identify and take action against premises that unlawfully broadcast live sport and other protected content. Commercial piracy is not a victimless offence. It damages legitimate businesses, undermines the value of sports rights and is part of a wider illegal streaming ecosystem often linked to organised criminality. It can also expose those who use illegal services to risks including malware, fraud and data theft.”
Sara Stewart, head of compliance (commercial anti-piracy), Sky Business, added: “Sky is the home of premium sport and the UK’s leading investor in women’s sport therefore protecting our customers’ investments is more crucial than ever. When businesses illegally broadcast Sky Sports, it undermines that investment and instead profits criminal networks.”
“Venues that continue to televise content in this way are breaking the law and are at risk of being ordered to pay significant damages and legal costs to Sky and/or losing their personal licence,” she warned.
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