ukpolska:
UK FTA channels intended for broadcast in the UK are by definition are ONLY allowed legally to be picked up within the boarders of the UK.
Show me one prosecution made anywhere in Europe for receiving FTA content in a 'free' country. It just doesn't happen - again, if you actually read the link that you posted, you'll find that they were seizing Sky digicards, *not* dishes or receivers. If it was illegal to receive FTA channels, then the digiboxes would have been seized too.
FTA channels in Europe have always historically been available without fuss - and the actions of the Spanish police confirm that they're not interested in those accessing FTA broadcasts. In fact, the BBC (and C4/ITV) have been treading a very thin line by making channels available FTA - many observers were surprised that rights holders allowed them to broadcast content 'in the clear'.
ukpolska:
Our Lawyers have been studying these directives for six months in preparation for 19th December when we will be releasing our service across the EU.
I'll believe it when I see it. I'm not at all convinced that the directive, as implemented into national law will allow you to rebroadcast the BBC et al without problems. In fact, most online sources seem to suggest that the only thing that's changing is that iPlayer et al will become regulated for the first time.
Do you have a link to anywhere that can definitively prove that you'll be entitled to do so? My reading of the subject so far is that while in theory, such services can be made EU wide - the issue of rights holders only selling the rights for one territory will prevent anyone from actually rebroadcasting it freely.
Interesting times for media, certainly.