A group of Canadian satellite TV dealers has failed in its bid to delay enforcement of a ban on the unlicensed reception of foreign satellite signals.

The group, which operates in the so-called grey market, whereby Canadian consumers maintain a US mailing address and receive US signals , was responding to an April 26 Supreme Court ruling prohibiting the such reception of direct-to-home satellite signals from any the two licensed Canadian satellite service providers, Bell Expressvu, which launched the original case, and Star Choice.

The satellite dealers plan to mount a challenge to the nation's telecommunications law, arguing that the Supreme Courts decision opens the door to a complaint based on violation of freedom of expression. It's estimated that between 500,000 and 700,000 Canadian households receive services from US providers Echostar and DirecTV.