Facilitators of illegal streaming of Premier League games have been ordered to pay the league £360,000 ($447,030) "for infringing copyright," according to Amitai Winehouse of the London DAILY MAIL. Three suppliers of pre-loaded IPTV boxes "were hit with the fines," while 10 pubs have also been ordered to pay a total of £93,000 ($115,483) in costs to the Premier League. Neosat was the company "hit hardest by the courts." It was ordered to pay costs totaling £100,000 ($124,175) and "cease the sale of the illegal IPTV devices." Football for Pubs Ltd. and Pub Entertainment Systems "were also targeted" and had to pay the Premier League £90,000 ($111,757) and £77,000 ($95,614), respectively (DAILY MAIL, 2/17). ADVANCED TELEVISION's Colin Mann reported Neosat said in a statement that these actions "are part of a wide-ranging and sustained Premier League campaign to protect its copyright," the investment in its rights from Sky and BT and the "benefits they bring across English football and beyond, and support the individuals and pubs that broadcast our matches the right way." The focus of the Premier League’s protection of its copyright "is not only sellers of IPTV boxes but also pubs that ignore warnings and broadcast matches" on unauthorized foreign channels (ADVANCED TELEVISIONS, 2/17).
