The Malta Communications Authority is concerned over the illegal use of the satellite-based TV system called Dreambox and is exploring ways of curbing such abuse, according to spokesperson Mandy Calleja.

Ms Calleja told The Times Business: “The MCA is in on-going contact with various parties within the government, including the police and the Office of the Attorney General with a view to curbing abusive practices such as illicit card sharing and the consequential misuse of equipment such as Dreambox.

“The Authority is concerned that a number of persons in business are providing illegal access to unauthorised subscriber cards via card sharing that allows the decrypting of television content, to which rights are held by local pay TV operators and other television content which is unauthorised to be broadcast locally.”

Ms Calleja said that in other jurisdictions, the original rights holders, such as SKY or UEFA have taken direct legal action against such offenders.

The MCA, she said, “is exploring what avenues may exist to curb such practices”.

The Dreambox is a satellite receiver connected to a dish on the roof and to the internet. A series of codes are used to gain access to channels offering sports, films and other television programmes. This is known as code sharing.