Sky Atlantic TV may not broadcast Going Clear due to Northern Ireland libel laws

TV ‘exposure’ of Scientology halted by UK libel law split | The Guardian

Lawyers warn that differences in defamation law in Northern Ireland mean controversial US documentary ‘Going Clear’ might not be broadcast

By Edward Helmore in New York, April 18, 2015

Plans to broadcast HBO’s Church of Scientology exposé, Going Clear, have been shelved by Sky Atlantic in a virtual repeat of events two years ago, when UK publishers abandoned publication of the book on which the hard-hitting new TV documentary is based.

Sky originally indicated that the Alex Gibney-directed film, which alleges abusive practices at the religion’s US headquarters, would be transmitted in the UK earlier this month in step with its American release.

However, the Observer has learned that because Northern Ireland is not subject to the 2013 Defamation Act, the broadcaster could be exposed to libel claims from David Miscavige, the leader of the church, or others. This appears to have caused the company to postpone transmission, if not to cancel it entirely.

For technical reasons, Sky is unable to differentiate its signal between regions, rendering the same programme potentially exposed to pre-reform libel laws in Northern Ireland, but shielded in Britain where, among free-speech safeguards and reforms designed to limit frivolous claims or “libel tourism”, people or organisations must now show “serious harm” to reputation. Sky called the decision a delay rather than a cancellation, but did not deny it was taken for legal reasons. “At present, Sky’s transmission date for Going Clear has not been confirmed,” a spokesman said.

From its Los Angeles HQ, the church has denounced the film as a “one-sided, bigoted propaganda built on falsehoods” and informed by former members – whom it calls “misfits”. It is understood to have instructed solicitors in the UK to warn Sky it faces legal action if Going Clear is broadcast.

The church said in a statement: “The Church of Scientology will be entitled to seek the protection of both UK and Irish libel laws in the event that any false or defamatory content in this film is broadcast within these jurisdictions.”

Paul Tweed, a Belfast libel lawyer who represents Miscavige, was involved in previous correspondence with UK publisher Transworld, which ultimately dropped Going Clear, the Lawrence Wright book on which the documentary is based. Tweed argues against any change to existing libel laws. He considers Northern Ireland’s unreformed law the fairest in the world. He warns of “consequences of dissemination in jurisdictions where reputations can be protected”.

He added: “If Sky makes a decision to broadcast they will be making a commercial decision for commercial reasons. Any client of mine, whether a journalist or a high-profile personality, is entitled to protect their reputation against false allegations.

“In terms of Sky’s decision … they have to make absolutely certain that what they are broadcasting is not defamatory or untrue. If they have right on their side, they have nothing to fear.”

UK libel lawyers with no connection to the church, current or former members, say uneven implementation of the reforms across jurisdictions is causing chaos for broadcasters.

“It’s a headache because it’s quite difficult technologically to broadcast in just one jurisdiction,” says Gavin Millar QC of Matrix Law chambers in London. “Broadcasters can get sucked into litigation in Northern Ireland that they wouldn’t get sucked into in Britain.”

A programme broadcast in Northern Ireland on a controversial religion could attract a substantial number of viewers, raising exposure. “It just depends how important you think it is to broadcast in that jurisdiction, and how many people you think are going to see it.”

<snipped>

Whether Sky will ever broadcast Going Clear is an open question. Under UK libel law, a publisher might only have to prove that “the statement complained was, or formed part of, a statement on a matter of public interest and they reasonably believed that publishing it was in the public interest”. But with the Northern Ireland assembly blocking the reforms from entering common law, it’s an argument lawyers for the broadcaster may not get the opportunity to make.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/20...xposure-halted-uk-libel-law-split-going-clear

So sad...

Any Wikifags want to update Paul Tweed's page to include the fact he's a paid agent for the cult?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Tweed

He's on Twitter too.

https://twitter.com/paul_tweed

So when a cult member believes they have been libeled, Mr. Tweed is called in to litigate?

Hard-hitting Scientology documentary slammed by John Travolta unlikely to be aired in UK due to Northern Ireland libel law

• Scientology exposé has been halted over differences in UK libel law
• HBO's 'Going Clear' was due to be broadcast by Sky earlier this month
• Lawyers warned church could sue because of Northern Ireland's libel law
• John Travolta has slammed the documentary and said he would not watch

By Jenny Awford for MailOnline

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...kely-aired-UK-Northern-Ireland-libel-law.html

Scientology documentary may never be broadcast in UK due to outdated libel law

By Neela Debnath, The Independent

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-e...in-uk-due-to-outdated-libel-law-10187893.html

this is wrong on so many levels.
Facts are facts.
They are protecting the wrong people

Showing of ‘Going Clear’ held up in the UK because of libel law concerns

By Tony Ortega, April 19, 2015

Excerpt:

“The broadcaster could be exposed to libel claims from David Miscavige, the leader of the church, or others. This appears to have caused the company to postpone transmission, if not to cancel it entirely,” reports the Guardian’s Edward Helmore.

Well, that’s certainly a blow. But it makes you wonder how the BBC got away with its two specials about Scientology, featuring John Sweeney.

http://tonyortega.org/2015/04/19/an...video-and-an-underground-bunker-announcement/

He is now that the difference in Northern Irish law can be exploited.

The "technological reasons" excuse sounds like bullshit. Possibly they don't have the administrative structure to make sure each cable feed or set-top box, or whatever, plays the right program based on geography, but that's not due to anything technological.

I suspect the problem is lack of balls.

There may be a chance of some lemonade from this particular crop of lemons. All legal and above board but wee Davey really needs to remember Anonymous Northern Ireland hasn't gone away you know.

Why you can't watch Scientology documentary Going Clear in the UK

By Mike Harris, Little Atoms

Free speech fears as Sky pulls film from schedule

Two years ago, I spent a day with author Lawrence Wright, whose exposé of the Church of Scientology, “Going Clear”, had not been published in the UK due to the fear of the then-unreformed law of libel. Wright met parliamentarians, journalists and libel campaigners and expressed his belief that his book should be published in the UK. With reform of the law on the horizon, there was hope that the era where libel tourists made the High Court in London an international free speech pariah was nearly over.

It now seems that director Alex Gibney’s film based on Wright’s book will not be shown in the UK either. According to the Observer, Sky Atlantic has decided the risk of falling foul of the law is too great. Yet, it isn’t the law of England and Wales that is to blame this time. It’s the unreformed libel laws of Northern Ireland and Scotland that are causing concern.

For while the Defamation Act 2013 made huge improvements to the law in England and Wales, for reasons that are still not clear, neither the governments of Northern Ireland or Scotland decided to enact the law in their jurisdictions. It means the new public interest defence, the new honest comment defence (the “Simon Singh” defence), the bar on libel tourists, the hurdle to stop corporations suing individuals and the new provisions to prevent vexatious and trivial claims, do not apply in Northern Ireland or Scotland.

This has left a gaping loophole in the law. While, for instance, a victim of our libel laws such as Singh may now be safe to publish in London, if their work is read in Northern Ireland they could find themselves in court.
DUP’s 'intense hostility to libel reform

The background to this decision is still shrouded in mystery. In May 2013, Democratic Unionist Party Assembly Member Sammy Wilson withdrew a paper on applying the Defamation Bill in Northern Ireland without either the Assembly or the Executive having a chance to see it. The finance department has refused to comment on questions from a political committee in Stormont. Sam McBride, the political correspondent of the News Letter has given his view on why reform was blocked, tweeting:

"The volume of solicitors' letters from DUP to BBC over one Spotlight episode gives a pretty clear hint as to why DUP blocked libel reform".

The DUP’s intense hostility to libel reform has made the campaign to reform the law in Northern Ireland led by English PEN and Sense About Science hard fought for. Political machinations have seen a private member’s bill by Mike Nesbitt MLA (the leader of the Ulster Unionist Party) blocked in order to hold a consultation. Months later, the consultation was nearly cancelled after the Executive decided to abolish the body that was hosting the consultation.

SNP blocks progress on free speech

Meanwhile in Scotland, the SNP-led government refused to enact the Defamation Bill and refused to subject its decision to any consultation.

The block on libel reform was announced in June just before Holyrood went on holiday preventing tough questions from opposition MSPs.

The result is a chilling effect on the free speech of people across the UK. Unfortunately, the internet doesn’t recognise either Hadrian’s Wall or the Irish Sea, so scientists exposing false claims, journalists writing hard-hitting public interest exposes of corruption or bloggers exposing wrongdoing in Manchester or Cardiff could find themselves hauled in front of courts in Belfast or Edinburgh.

The Church of Scientology has always contested key claims made in Wright's book, saying it is “one-sided”. In a statement to The Observer, the church said, “The Church of Scientology will be entitled to seek the protection of both UK and Irish libel laws in the event that any false or defamatory content in this film is broadcast within these jurisdictions.”

Without reform of the law of libel in Scotland and Northern Ireland, in practice every UK broadcaster, newspaper and blogger could be subject to the archaic, restrictive law.

Mike Harris advises the Libel Reform Campaign.

Source:
http://www.littleatoms.com/society/why-you-cant-watch-scientology-documentary-going-clear-uk

Mike Harris on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/mjrharris

Yup, libel law is done wrong in the UK

Sky pulls Scientology show because of Ulster libel laws | Belfast Telegraph

A hard-hitting Scientology documentary faces the axe from UK TV screens because of Northern Ireland's archaic libel laws.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/e...ow-because-of-ulster-libel-laws-31154776.html

Defamation Act must be extended to end Northern Ireland's embarrassment | Belfast Telegraph

It was only a matter of time before Northern Ireland's antiquated libel laws ran up against the fairer system that ordains in England and Wales. And now it has happened.

http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/o...northern-irelands-embarrassment-31154824.html

“This is depressing,” Sweeney tells us. “A major step towards freer speech in the UK is being blocked because politicians in Northern Ireland, where bigotry is not unknown, have not changed old laws that help gag bold journalism. Going Clear bravely tells of allegations that Scientology’s Pope, David Miscavige, is a violent thug. The Church and he deny this. People can watch it in the United States but not in Britain. Likewise, Going Clear the book has not been published in the UK. Likewise, my book, Church Of Fear, was rejected by every big UK publisher and only exists because my agent published it. In the UK, we still live in the libel Dark Ages.”

http://tonyortega.org/2015/04/19/an...video-and-an-underground-bunker-announcement/

Robinson unapologetic on libel law, despite Scientology move | Belfast Newsletter

Peter Robinson has made clear that he does not regret blocking libel reform in Northern Ireland, despite the situation reportedly leading to a major film about Scientology being pulled across the UK.

By Sam McBride

The Observer has reported that Sky shelved plans to broadcast Going Clear, a controversial exposé of the religious organisation, because of Northern Ireland’s more restrictive free speech laws.

David Tweed, the Belfast lawyer who represents chief Scientologist David Miscavige, also acts for Mr Robinson and has been the main voice arguing against the extension of the 2013 Defamation Act to Northern Ireland.

The act provides protections for journalism which is in the public interest, attempts to address so-called libel tourism and gives unique protections for academics, some of whom have faced spurious libel claims from large corporations whose products they have questioned.

When asked if he regretted blocking libel reform, the First Minister denied that he had “blocked” reform because there has been a consultation about the issue.

Referring to the decision to stop Westminster’s 2013 Defamation Act extending to Northern Ireland, Mr Robinson was unapologetic, saying “that is what devolution is about – you do your own pieces of legislation”.

He claimed there are “publishers and broadcasters who would like to say and do whatever they want and have no consequences for what they say or do” and added: “In some areas, I think there would be a good case for tightening libel laws and defamation laws because there are some people who are totally irresponsible, and I think particularly of social media...”

Source, and open comments:
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/re...-libel-law-despite-scientology-move-1-6703968

On Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Robinson_(politician)

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/DUPleader

Maybe Peter's hoping to get some pointers from wee Davey about the best way to make wives disappear.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iris_Robinson_scandal

They would rather have people join a cult and suffer, rather than warn them of the danger.
That makes sense.

Oh nothing makes sense in Stormont. Peter's a hardcore Christian who had to apologise for saying he wouldn't trust Muslims devoted to Sharia law but he won't criticise Scientology. It's a bit like his equally Christian wife smugly condemning homosexuality while she was humping a teenager.

utterly ridic

Going Clear: the film Scientologists don’t want you to see | The Guardian

The HBO film has been called ‘a powder-keg documentary’ about the controversial church. So why can’t it be screened in the UK?

By John Sweeney, April 28, 2015

Excerpt:

In its goal of preventing a broadcast of Going Clear in the UK, the church has an unlikely ally in Northern Ireland’s libel laws. The 2013 Defamation Act set out a new defence for public-interest journalism on the British mainland: that the plaintiff has to show “serious harm” has been done to it. However, the act has not been made law in Northern Ireland, and Sky Atlantic – which has the UK rights to broadcast the film – cannot cut off the province from its satellite transmissions for this single show.

Here's the full article and open comments:
http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/apr/28/going-clear-the-film-scientologists-dont-want-you-to-see

http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/ireland/article1551714.ece

Celebrity solicitors dine out on Irish libel law

A LAWYER who represents singer Justin Timberlake and model Rosanna Davison has advised British lawyers to sue for defamation in “libel-friendly” Dublin because of a tightening up of laws in England and Wales and the presence of social-media companies in Ireland.

Belfast-based Paul Tweed has alerted his colleagues to the appeal of Dublin for litigants in an article for The Barrister. He bemoans the recent reform of defamation law in England for “making it more difficult for an international personality to take on the media, never mind the ordinary man in the street”.

The UK’s 2013 Defamation Act creates a “serious harm” test for plaintiffs, designed to reverse the “chilling effect” that previous libel laws had on freedom of expression and debate. There is no “serious harm” test in Irish law, and the act does not extend to Northern Ireland.

It was reported last week that Sky Television had decided not to broadcast HBO’s Going Clear exposé of the Church of Scientology, fearing a libel suit in Northern Ireland by the church’s leader David Miscavige, who is represented by Tweed.

“It’s a dead simple situation,” said Tweed. “If the content of their film is truthful and accurate they should have no concerns. If not, then they will be exposed to the libel laws in Northern Ireland and Scotland where the laws are the same.”

Tweed, who said he is not advocating “libel tourism”, believes the new defamation battleground is over material published online. He said the fact that Facebook, Google and Twitter have all opened European or international headquarters in Dublin means they are subject to European privacy rules and Irish libel law.

“There’s a great frustration with social-media sites around the world,” said Tweed. “There are problems in relation to privacy and their tardiness in taking down abusive, threatening and harassing comments. It’s a real problem for my clients. Ordinary people, including journalists, are being hammered on these sites. The recourse is very limited.”

Tweed said companies such as Facebook should not be “hiding” behind the first amendment of the US constitution, which protects freedom of speech.

London lawyers have contacted him to express an interest in practising in Dublin, he said. “They see a very active bar,” said Tweed. “Ireland is a very litigious society, not just in relation to libel but also banking and the fallout from the collapse of the Irish economy. They see opportunities in that.”

Tweed represented Timberlake and his actress wife Jessica Biel when they sued Heat magazine in Dublin last year and won an apology. He also represented Tulisa Contostavlos, an X Factor judge, whose defamation case against The Irish Sun was ruled out of time. Tweed said Contostavlos would sue The Irish Sun for “malicious falsehood” in a new case.

“Libel tourism is a myth,” said Tweed. “I do see a dramatic increase in claims against Facebook, Google and online publishers, because they are based and publish in Ireland. I wouldn’t be paying for my dinner each night if I was dependent on Northern Ireland libel actions. I’m opposing [reform] vigorously. I act for most of the political parties in Northern Ireland. There is no need to change what the ‘right to libel campaign’ are calling for.”

Seamus Dooley, Irish secretary of the National Union of Journalists, said there was a strong need for reform of Irish libel laws across the island. “Ireland should not become a happy hunting ground for celebrities with deep pockets,” he said. “The Press Council of Ireland and the creation of the office of Press Ombudsman resolved many of the issues, affording a cost effective means of redress.

“Ireland may well be viewed as a great little country in which to sue. This has serious implications for freedom of expression and could threaten the very existence of some media titles.”

Alex Gibney @alexgibneyfilm · 5 hours ago
A fascinating piece in Private Eye about Northern Ireland, libel tourism and Scientology. Paisley, Miscavige & Tweed.



The article is mentioned online but so far appears only in print:

Top stories in the latest issue:

SUE, GRABBIT & TWEED

Meet Paul Tweed, the Irish lawyer waiting to pounce in Belfast or Dublin if a UK broadcaster dares show Scientology documentary, Going Clear.

http://www.private-eye.co.uk/media-news

GO GO GO!
The people of the UK need to see this and be made aware of their crimes and their exemptions.

The Church of Scientology is attempting to stop documentary Going Clear's UK release | Digital Spy

The Church of Scientology is still trying to ban the release of Alex Gibney's Going Clear - a documentary about the controversial organisation.

Screen reports that UK lawyers for the Church are in touch with at least one company and an individual involved in the movie's release, warning of potential copyright infringement if the film is shown in the UK.

But the approach doesn't appear to have put off the UK distributors, who are slightly revising some scenes with captions in the UK version "relating to potentially sensitive material".

In Going Clear, Oscar-winning director Alex Gibney interviews former members of the Church of Scientology - including filmmaker Paul Haggis - and reveals alleged abuses and strange practices within the organisation.

Sky Atlantic owns the theatrical release rights, but it is understood the UK broadcast has been postponed in the face of libel concerns in Northern Ireland.

A spokesperson for Sky said that "no transmission has been confirmed", but it's thought a September broadcast date is now being considered.

Continued here:
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/movies/...stop-documentary-going-clears-uk-release.html

Alex Gibney's 'Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief' Showing At London's Bertha DocHouse This Thursday

Excerpt:

The film was due to be aired on Sky in the UK, but was latterly pulled from the schedules under pressure from various legal bods. But this Thursday, it comes to the Bertha DocHouse, with an exclusive Q&A session with director Alex Gibney following the screening.

Bertha DocHouse is an exciting new initiative – the UK’s first and only cinema dedicated to documentary films, located in the newly-refurbished Curzon Bloomsbury Cinema.

As the UK’s only dedicated documentary centre it aims to celebrate documentary through themed seasons and by showcasing new films from festivals around the world.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/201...ey-documentary-bertha-dochouse_n_7636522.html

http://www.dochouse.org/

Looks like the cult is doing more damage control in the UK:

Scientology advertises on Channel 4 | East Grinstead Online



Scientology, the controversial organisation founded by science fiction writer L Ron Hubbard, is currently advertising on Channel 4.

A 30-second spot which appeared in the ad break for Deal or No Deal this afternoon, featured claims that Scientology is responsible for alerting millions to the dangers of illegal drug use, and has helped the victims of natural disasters.

However the organisation, which has its UK headquarters at Saint Hill, was heavily criticised in the recent documentary film Going Clear – the Prison of Belief, which took an in-depth look at its inner workings, and included allegations of punishment regimes and members who sign billion year contracts.

Despite claiming ten million adherents world-wide, membership of Scientology appears to be waning, with many high profile exits by former executives.

Just 2,418 people in England and Wales admitted membership in the 2011 UK census.

This figure compared to the 176,632 people claiming to be Jedi, Druids (4,189), Zoroastrians (4,105) and Rastafarians (7,906).

Source:
http://bluebelldigital.co.uk/eastgrinsteadonline/2015/06/22/scientology-advertises-on-channel-4/

During commercial breaks in The Good Wife TV series adverts for Scientology have appeared in recent weeks and once only per episode.
I emailed my complaints about it to the Advertising Standards Authority who were quick to reply due to the complaint already having been made on a number of times previously.
Their reply was not encouraging, stating that no rules were breached and for reference I should look at the historical ruling made by them.

Scientology documentary will not be shown in East Grinstead | East Grinstead Online

Alex Gibney’s film, based on the best selling book by Lawrence Wright, and with contributions from many of Scientology’s highest-ranked former members, has already been screened world wide, but has only just been released in the UK after legal tussles. But a spokesman for Scott cinemas said the film will not be shown in East Grinstead:

“I’ve spoken to my Booking Manager and unfortunately due to a contractual issue between the film’s distributor and payments that they would have to pay in order to play this film, we’re therefore unable to play this film, sorry.”

http://bluebelldigital.co.uk/eastgr...umentary-will-not-be-shown-in-east-grinstead/

Failure to show Scientology film in NI ‘clear indication’ of libel reform need | Belfast Newsletter

The lack of cinemas broadcasting a new film about Scientology is “the first clear indication” of how the Northern Irish public are being left out by the failure to reform libel law, it has been claimed.

http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/re...ear-indication-of-libel-reform-need-1-6822182

Scientology film decision shows need for libel reform | Belfast Newsletter

It is both disturbing and predictable that the Scientology film is not being distributed in Northern Ireland, due to our dated libel laws.

http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/scientology-film-decision-shows-need-for-libel-reform-1-6823837

There's a related post here:

https://whyweprotest.net/threads/hb...ibney-going-clear.121403/page-37#post-2544382

Case for reform of north's libel laws is clear

By Brian Garrett, The Irish News

So now we know. The television documentary on Scientology titled “Going Clear” which has been shown widely in the United States is not to be shown here or in Great Britain.

“Why so?” you might ask. Is free speech better protected in the USA?

The answer apparently is that reforms introduced in England and Wales by the Defamation Act 2013 have not been introduced in Northern Ireland by the Assembly (defamation law is a devolved subject) and so the programme might invite litigation in the courts of Northern Ireland.

More particularly, changes introduced by the 2013 Act designed to provide a defence to an action for defamation in the case of publications (which include TV and radio broadcasts) dealing with matters of public interest have not been made law here, nor has the new rule that a statement is not defamatory unless its publication causes or is likely to cause serious harm.

It remains something of a mystery why the law on defamation in Northern Ireland has not followed the changes in England and Wales.

Until January 1 2014, when the Act came into force, the law in Northern Ireland mirrored that in the rest of the UK. But the law had become outdated and many felt it unduly inhibited a free press.

A lengthy public consultation was initiated at Westminster and, with all-party support, the 2013 Act was enacted.

It was widely assumed that the Northern Ireland Executive would authorise the new law to apply locally but, contrary to expectation, Sammy Wilson MLA, the minister then responsible for this subject, declined to authorise its introduction.

No debate took place on this decision despite fears that it might cause serious problems in terms of press freedom and the need to strike a better balance between press freedom and the protection of the reputation of the individual.

Other important reforms were also included in the 2013 Act to give protection to statements in scientific and academic journals which are independently reviewed, as well as power to remove defamatory statements from websites.

And so the law currently rests unreformed in Northern Ireland.

A reform campaign has however been mounted locally which is supported by a number of journalists, writers and lawyers. I am a member of the campaign.

Continued here:
http://www.irishnews.com/opinion/co...reform-of-north-s-libel-laws-is-clear-178351/

Scientology documentary Going Clear gets go-ahead to air on Sky in UK | The Guardian

Sky is to air controversial Scientology film Going Clear in September, months after shelving it over concerns that the church might have grounds for libel action.

The Alex Gibney-directed film, which alleges abusive practices at the religion’s US headquarters, debuted on HBO in the US in April attracting more than 5.5 million viewers. It has since attracted seven Emmy nominations.

Sky Atlantic had originally intended to air the TV documentary in close step with the American release, but was forced to delay broadcast due to concerns over libel laws in Northern Ireland, which is not subject to the Defamation Act 2013.

“Both Sky, and the producers of the film, have sought legal advice at every stage of the process and are confident that the film complies with legal requirements in the territories in which we are screening the film,” said a spokesman for Sky.

Sky is to air the film, Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief, on 21 September on Sky Atlantic at 9pm. It will be available to Sky’s 12 million pay-TV customers in the UK, including Northern Ireland, as well as the Republic of Ireland.

Continued here:
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/aug/05/scientology-documentary-clear-sky-uk-us-hbo

You’ll finally get to see the controversial Scientology documentary on Irish telly

It has been getting rave reviews since it first premiered at Sundance Film Festival, and now the controversial Scientology documentary Going Clear is coming to Irish TV.

After legal wrangling, the go-ahead has been given for the Alex Gibney-directed documentary to be shown on Sky. That means it will be available to Sky customers in Ireland and the UK.

The Church of Scientology is not happy about the representation of it in the documentary. ( sci link deleted)

The Church has documented evidence thathose featured........sci links deleted.... regurgitating their stale, discredited allegations are admitted perjurers, admitted liars and professional anti-Scientologists whose living depends on the filing of false claims. All have been gone so long from the Church they know nothing of it today.

<snipped>

The Emmy award-winning film will be shown on 21 September at 9pm on Sky Atlantic.

Celia Taylor, Sky’s Head of Non-Scripted Commissioning, commented:

Going Clear is a brilliantly compelling film that unflinchingly probes the secretive world of Scientology through powerful testimony and a beautifully crafted narrative. I am extremely proud of it.

The Guardian said that the news comes after Sky sought legal advice over the transmission of the film.

http://www.thejournal.ie/going-clear-watch-ireland-2253839-Aug2015/

Scientology Documentary ‘Going Clear’ to Air on Rupert Murdoch’s Sky | Variety

http://variety.com/2015/tv/global/s...ear-to-air-on-rupert-murdochs-sky-1201556998/

Haha... the foot bullets keep coming. In typical scientology fashion their hamfisted attempts at squashing Going Clear has only given it a bunch of free advertisement and increased public interest in a film they may not have gone to see.

Scientology guaranteed the maximum possible number of viewers by attempting to censor it. People just love to eat forbidden fruit to satisfy their curiosity about why it was forbidden to them.

Precisely. It's explained here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect

Sky Atlantic to air controversial Scientology documentary

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-33794590

And that they're all spouting 'provable bullshit'

Going Clear: Scientology and The Prison of Belief for Sky Atlantic

ATV Today, August 18, 2015

Sky will premiere Going Clear: Scientology and The Prison of Belief next month on Sky Atlantic.

“I’m hugely proud that Sky Atlantic has co-produced Going Clear, especially in light of its recent success gaining seven Emmy nominations. I’m sure that Sky audiences will be captivated by Alex Gibney’s remarkable film.”

– Zai Bennett, Director of Sky Atlantic

The documentary, which has attracted widespread critical acclaim, is a Sky Atlantic co-production from Academy Award winning filmmaker Alex Gibney. The film recently garnered 7 Emmy award nominations, including for Direction and best Documentary Special.

Based on the book by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Lawrence Wright, Going Clear: Scientology and The Prison of Belief, has been described as both “fascinating” and “chilling” by The Independent, and a “powerful expose” by The Guardian, intimately profiles eight former members of the Church of Scientology, shining a light on how they attract true believers and the things they do in the name of religion.

The powerful film highlights the Church’s origins – from its roots in the mind of founder L. Ron Hubbard to its rise to popularity in Hollywood and beyond. The heart of the film is a series of shocking claims (which are denied by the Church) by former insiders, including high-ranking and recognizable members such as acclaimed screenwriter Paul Haggis (Crash) as they describe a systematic history of abuse and betrayal by Church officials, including the current leadership of the church.

Going Clear: Scientology and The Prison of Belief, 21st of September at 9pm on Sky Atlantic.

Source: http://www.atvtoday.co.uk/71403-sky/