Pay to view sports, firms reminded

SMALL businesses planning on tuning into the summer of sport are being warned they need a TV licence.

With the Olympics and football European Championships headlining a busy few months, bosses in the Capital are expected to appease their workers and screen some of the action in offices.

But they have been warned that any premises showing live TV, including on computer screens, needs a licence, with fines of up to £1000 handed out to those who ignore it. Licensing chiefs have produced a guide for businesses explaining what they need to know.

Amanda Sutcliffe, of TV Licensing Scotland, said: “This guide helps everybody in the workplace be clear about whether they can watch programmes as they are being shown on TV at work. We want to encourage businesses to get licensed in time for the summer of sport.”

John Walker, national chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses, added: “This guide provides clear advice on what viewing policies are in place for staff and visitors. It is a helpful tool for those staff that want to watch the sports at work.”