Pirate television

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A pirate television station is a broadcast TV station that operates without official or government licensing. Like its counterpart pirate radio, the term pirate TV lacks a specific universal interpretation. It implies a form of broadcasting that is unwelcome by the licensing authorities within the territory where its signals are received, especially when the country of transmission is the same as the country of reception. When the area of transmission is not a country, or when it is a country and the transmissions are not illegal, those same broadcast signals may be deemed illegal in the country of reception. Therefore "pirate TV" can mean many things to many people. Pirate television stations may also be known as "bootleg TV", or confused with licensed LPTV or Amateur television services.

Pirate Television stations are not as abundant in the U.S.A. or U.K as pirate radio stations are. Only since 2004, has the technology for pirate television stations become easier to obtain and construct, due to advances in technologies and the availability of equipment.