Bootleg TV
Journalist Benny Davis takes a look at streaming UK TV in Spain
I am reliably informed that free to air TV is the only legal method of watching UK TV in Spain as like the government's latest invention, 'air bridges', ´satellite signals cross many borders without control. This package consists of a limited number of BBC and ITV stations. Evidentially nothing else is legal, although many hundreds of locally based small businesses, openly advertise full UK TV services. These include everything from Sky Sports to movies and catch-up TV to box video sets, all technically illegal. But if you are a bona fide receiver of these services, don't panic as I understand the situation is so internationally complex, the possibility of losing your daily soapfix is extremely unlikely.
During the last century, an American government ban on alcohol failed to quell the market demand for booze and promptly procreated a massive underground illicit boot-leg industry. Similarly, the ex-pat invasion of the 1990s in Spain, left communities hungry for UK news and entertainment. Although today the market is valued at many millions of pounds, no official efforts were made to harness the market into a legal enterprise. Hence the expansion of illegal bootleg-TV.
It is understandable that if someone has invested their creativity, time, and money to produce a desirable product, unlawful rip-off is a crime as it is downright stealing. But I find it difficult to understand how an 'entrepreneur' who has seized the chance to fulfil the needs of an open market be classified as a 'criminal' but that is the term used by those that police this industry.
So how does the system work? The chain starts with highly skilled geeks setting up illegal underground hubs around Europe, where they hack into mainstream TV via internet or satellite, record the content and distribute to their customers fractions of a second after recording. They often sell direct to the public via websites but also act as wholesalers to locally based main distributors and hundreds of re-sellers such as your local friendly supplier. Police raids are not uncommon, but due to the very nature of this huge financial beast, within days, or even hours, they are either up and running in another location, or new boys on the block have eagerly stepped in to get their share of this lucrative market. This system is called IPTV (Internet Protocol Television)
In Spain, only Spanish channels are permitted over digital terrestrial channels and Movistar own the rights. Movistar have also bought Canal+ that provides satellite in Spain. Unfortunately, they offer no alternative English programme packages and seemingly have no plans to introduce any in the future. We contacted the Movistar press office requesting an official comment, but to date, they have not responded.
Final advice is don't worry about the legalities of receiving UK television in Spain. Receiving and viewing is not a crime, but because of the vulnerability of the sources of supply, choose a reliable local retailer for the service and never pay for a year up front, regardless of discounts and deals offered. Pay monthly to limit any form of financial risk through possible loss of signal.
Happy viewing!
My thanks to Pete for his technical advice - www.aafree englishtv.com