Cut off from Corrie!

Receiving Sky television in Spain is in breach of contract with the company BskyB. That applies whether you receive Sky direct via a large dish or via a re-broadcast microwave system.

It's the reason why, people with a dish, Sky box and viewing card pay their accounts via a registered English address. Companies that perform this service on behalf of customers in Spain explicitly state that "you should never contact Sky either by mail or telephone from your Spanish address." Sky make it clear that, when they become aware that a viewing card is being used abroad, they switch it off.

People who are reluctant to have a large satellite dish on their terrace opt for one of the services that re-broadcast Sky programs via microwaves. Typically these systems use a square mesh dish or a circular dish to receive transmissions. The customer doesn't need a Sky viewing card or any form of contract with the parent company. On the face of it, this is a cheaper and easier way to get British TV here in Spain.

However, I understand that some customers of re-broadcast services had their programmes cut off on Tuesday evening. The problem seems to be affecting people in the Vega Baja; especially in Torrevieja and on the Orihuela Costa. Since these companies have no permission to re-broadcast English programs in Spain; it is difficult to see what they can legally do to resolve the problem.

So what are the alternatives?

1. You can receive Spanish terrestial TV via an aerial. Some of the channels are analogue but increasingly these are being changed over to digital. All of the programs, which include local Torrevieja and Orihuela stations, are of course in Spanish.
2. With an appropriate dish, LNB and receiver you can pick up free-to-view channels from the Astra, Hispasat or Hotbird satellites. From Astra 2 e.g. you can apparently pick up ITV channels, ITV1, 2, 3, 4 & All BBC channels, BBC1, 2, 3 ,4 but not Channels 4 and 5.
3. Lastly, you can subscribe to Canal+ or Digital + satellite TV. Both of which have channels with programmes in English.

It's rumoured that Canal are in negotiations with BskyB to transmit some of their programs via the Canal satellite system. Representatives from Sky are currently denying this.

So, for the moment at least, some ex-pats will have to wait to catch up with the happenings on Coronation Street.