Accessing Sky+ outside the UK

[JorjK]

We are about to spend three weeks in La Gomera (Canary Isles) and we won't be able to watch any of our programmes, especially Sky Sports. There was a time when we could use a VPN in order to appear to be in the UK, but Sky and other streamers are wise to that now. However, we have paid a subscription and if I wanted to read a Kindle book in La Gomera it wouldn't suddenly say, "Sorry, you can't read me, you're outside the UK." I would understand if it was a physical object on which we have to pay a tariff, but this is an ephemeral electronic service. So two questions:
"What is the justification for denying service outside the UK" and
"Is there a way of accessing say Sky Sports outside the UK?"

Thank you in advance
JorjK

[GD1]

@JorjK  SKy TV services can't be used/purchased outside the UK due to rights. 

[Annie+UK]

Sky have to pay a license for their content and it would cost vastly more money for a worldwide license than a UK only one, and I for one would not like the huge increase in subscription costs

There is no way to circumvent the terms & conditions to watch outside the UK unless your a ROI customer and IMO it is rather daft asking this on Skys own official forum 😞

Comparing a TV service to a digital book is also not like for like

[oj01]

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@JorjK wrote:

We are about to spend three weeks in La Gomera (Canary Isles) and we won't be able to watch any of our programmes, especially Sky Sports. There was a time when we could use a VPN in order to appear to be in the UK, but Sky and other streamers are wise to that now. However, we have paid a subscription and if I wanted to read a Kindle book in La Gomera it wouldn't suddenly say, "Sorry, you can't read me, you're outside the UK." I would understand if it was a physical object on which we have to pay a tariff, but this is an ephemeral electronic service. So two questions:
"What is the justification for denying service outside the UK" and
"Is there a way of accessing say Sky Sports outside the UK?"

Thank you in advance
JorjK

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Don't know about La Gomera specifically, but my parents spend a couple of months a year in Tenerife. They often find that the TV in their apartment has Sky Sports (and other channels) and certainly many of the bars show Sky Sports.

[TimmyBGood]

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@JorjK wrote:

So two questions:

"What is the justification for denying service outside the UK"

It's complicated .  Essentially, rights owners licence their content to Sky itself or other channels available through the Sky platforms on the understanding that access is geographically restricted because that means they can sell the same content to other distributors elsewhere.  Citizens of EU nations enjoy a limited exemption to this restriction but that ended for UK subscription services with Brexit.

An ebook is not usually distributed with its author having an expectation of geographic exclusivity.

"Is there a way of accessing say Sky Sports outside the UK?"

Not legitimately, no.  As noted above, inhabitants and businesses in countries within the footprint of the Astra 28.2E cluster may choose to make arrangements contrary to Sky T&C's (and use really big dishes)

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[BenJoBanjo]

@JorjK 

Might I recommend turning the TV off and enjoying the sights and sounds of La Gomera instead? 

[JorjK]

That's an excellent suggestion!

We want to watch two Brighton Hove Albion matches, that's all.

A previous post suggested the place we are staying may offer Sky Sports so we'll hope for that

[Marlu-Nyu]

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@JorjK wrote:

We are about to spend three weeks in La Gomera (Canary Isles) and we won't be able to watch any of our programmes, especially Sky Sports. There was a time when we could use a VPN in order to appear to be in the UK, but Sky and other streamers are wise to that now. However, we have paid a subscription and if I wanted to read a Kindle book in La Gomera it wouldn't suddenly say, "Sorry, you can't read me, you're outside the UK." I would understand if it was a physical object on which we have to pay a tariff, but this is an ephemeral electronic service. So two questions:
"What is the justification for denying service outside the UK" and
"Is there a way of accessing say Sky Sports outside the UK?"

Thank you in advance
JorjK

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I've copied my reply from another discussion: https://helpforum.sky.com/t5/What-s-On/Accessing-Netflix-while-on-holiday/m-p/5072782#M158915

[...]

Have a look at the below for more info:: 
https://www.sky.com/help/articles/viewing-sky-content-in-the-eu-faqs 
(Note, link may bring you to your home country's Sky site and may have different information for the UK and for Ireland)

As I'm in Ireland, the link says I can watch Sky in the following countries:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Republic of Cyprus
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France, including French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte, Réunion and Saint Martin.
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Ireland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal, including the Azores and Madeira.
• Romania
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain, including the Balearic Islands and Canary Islands.
• Sweden

However, it says I cannot watch Sky in the UK as the UK is outside of the EU. 

At the link above, one can click the flag on the bottom right of the page to change country information. 

The UK version of the page says:
"You can still use Sky Go in the UK, just like you do now.
You’re not entitled to access streamed content outside the UK through Sky Go, Sky Sports, and Sky Kids, but some of our apps will let you download and save shows over WiFi before you leave home so you can watch them offline when abroad.

This is because there are certain EU rules which mean people in the EU can use online content services across all EU countries. As the UK is no longer part of the EU, we are not able to provide this service in the same way.

This affects lots of online videos, music, and entertainment services, not just Sky.
[...]

There are certain EU rules which mean people in the EU can use online content services across all EU countries. As the UK is no longer part of the EU, we are not able to provide this service in the same way.

This affects lots of online videos, music, and entertainment services, not just Sky."

Also, a lot of streaming services now block disallow IPs from VPNs, e.g. BBC, ITV, STV, etc., so it's unlikely to work for Sky. 

~~

TLDR:
If one is in Ireland, one is permittied to watch Sky in the EU (not in the UK though). 
If one is in the UK, one is not permitted to watch Sky in the EU or outside the UK.