Ms. Joanne Elizabeth Hughes, the Licensee of the Rollers Arms in Wrexham, North East Wales, was found guilty in her absence of three offences in relation to the dishonest broadcast of Sky televised programming.
FACT brought the criminal prosecution against Ms. Hughes at Wrexham Maelor Magistrates’ Court on July 14, 2026. 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.
Hughes, the designated premises supervisor of the Rollers Arms was ordered to pay total fines and costs of £4,529.55. Business premises that show Sky broadcasts without a commercial viewing agreement risk facing similar action or potential civil legal proceedings.
Why it matters
Sky Sports content is only available to licensed premises through authorised commercial viewing agreements from Sky Business.
Sara Stewart, Head of Compliance (Commercial Anti-Piracy), Sky Business, added: “Sky Sports is a major draw for pubs and licensed venues, but it must be shown through a legitimate commercial agreement. The vast majority of businesses invest properly in the content they provide to customers, and it is only fair that action is taken where venues try to avoid those obligations.”
Nick Sumner, Investigations Manager at FACT, added that “FACT investigates these offences to protect rights holders, legitimate Sky Business customers and the wider licensed trade.”
Further reading
Licensee of the Rollers Arms in Wrexham, Clwyd fined £4,50 for illegally screening Sky Sports. Press release. July 24, 2026. FACT (Federation Against Copyright Theft), UK
