ANGRY East Lancashire landlords are threatening to ditch Sky Sports in the region's pubs just weeks before the start of the new football season.

Licensees who could pay as much as £365 a month in the latest rise in subscription charges have blasted the satellite TV company, which has exclusive rights to Premiership and Division One matches and hundreds of other sporting fixtures.

Some have already decided the cost of the service, which could go up as much as 43 per cent for some pubs on August 1, is not worth the money and pulled the plug.

Gary Stansfield, of the Craven Heifer, Burnley, said: "I was not prepared to pay the cost of Sky's extortionate fees. They've put them up about 150 per cent in 12 months, which is ridiculous.

"I've pulled the plug and to be honest I've not noticed a drop in trade. I would tell other landlords to do the same."

Jim Shorrock, of The Globe, Blackburn, and member of the Licensed Victuallers Association, said: "Sky are just taking the mickey because they know licensees are in a catch 22 situation. It's the latest nail in the coffin as far as we are concerned."

Past-president of the Burnley Licensed Victuallers Association Les Harrison added: "The prices are outrageous and licensees are seriously considering whether it it worth the money for the business it pulls in. I think many will decide it is not."

But a spokesman for Sky said the service represented excellent value for money when compared to other forms of entertainment, such as a disco or karaoke.

He went on: "Looking in terms of the business it creates, £40 a week for Sky Sports programming is not a lot."

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