The UK Freeview channel, Dave, is to go dark in support of Wikipedia, by broadcasting nothing but information on the anti-piracy bills currently under debate in the American Senate.
"I know American laws shouldn't affect us," said channel co-ordinate, David Davidson. "However, what with that Richard O'Dwyer lad in Sheffield who's been extradited to the USA for having a website that links to illegal sites, we're not taking anything for granted."
Although Dave screens mainly it's own shows and BBC shows, it cannot always guarantee that some of the shows don't contravene some obscure American copyright law.
"We show so many rehashed television programs," said Davidson, "we can't tell what's in copyright and what's not."
To raise awareness to the draconian American SOPA law that may or may not be enacted, Dave will cease broadcasting shows for the whole of tomorrow. Deja Vu will go dark the following day, it being a sample of the previous days shows.
"Although I'm sure it will be a massive inconvenience for our loyal viewers to miss five episodes of Top Gear they've already seen and our One Foot In The Grave back-to-back episodes special, they will just have to cope," said Davidson.
"I'll live," said Alex Hall, Clarkson's ex-wife, who likes to check up on her husband's royalty payments.
One company that will be hit hard by Dave's blackout day is the BBC.
"We make fifty pounds for every viewer of every show that Dave screen," said Emma Nemm, head of Domestic Program sales. "Last week we earned three hundred pounds from Dave. The money we don't make will have to be made up by increasing the licence fee by a hundred pounds."
