Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
City pub in legal row over televised sport
The TV firm is taking Cookies Bar, in Hilltown, to court over claims it has shown Sky Sports when it shouldn’t have.
The allegation has been taken to the Court of Session.
A spokeswoman for Sky confirmed legal proceedings had started.
According to Sky, pubs must pay for a business account with the broadcaster in order to show televised sport.
It is understood Cookies has been banned from screening further games and can no longer access Sky from its premises while the case is dealt with.
The pub is a popular venue with football fans, particularly on match days, given its proximity to Tannadice and Dens Park. The bar is situated about half-a-mile from the neighbouring football grounds.
The Tele attempted to contact Cookies’ owner Joyce Hutcheson, who is named in the court action, but she could not be reached at the time of going to press.
Ms Hutcheson has run the pub since 2015.
George Lawson, head of commercial piracy at Sky, said: “We obtained evidence that Cookies Bar was showing broadcasts of football matches without having a commercial subscription agreement that allowed them to do so. Our solicitors wrote to the premises offering them a chance to sign up to an agreement and we received no response.
“We then sought, and were awarded, an interim interdict on December 14 2017, preventing the personal licence holder and the designated premise supervisor (DPS) from showing Sky content without a commercial subscription agreement from Sky. Our solicitors were contacted by the DPS to ask whether we would be prepared to settle this action. Our solicitors confirmed that we would dismiss the action if the DPS paid a significant proportion of our legal costs and signed up to a 12-month commercial subscription agreement with Sky, which would enable them to broadcast Sky programmes legally.
“Despite a settlement being agreed in principle between the parties, it has not been concluded, and at this stage, we have no option but to proceed with the court action. We remain open to settlement of the matter and remain in discussions with the DPS.
“If no agreement is ultimately reached, we will proceed with the court action where we seek a permanent interdict order, £10,000 of damages, an advertisement notice — funded by the DPS — and the costs of the court action.”
A DUNDEE pub is facing a legal battle with broadcasting giant Sky after the company launched a civil action against the venue.