Between skyrocketing streaming platform prices and the cost of living crisis, it’s not entirely surprising that many of us turn to other methods of watching our favourite shows.
But content providers have started cracking down on the issue, from banning shared Netflix accounts to shutting down illegal streaming services.
Now, UK authorities have shut down a service that was offering Sky channels without the premium price tag via web browsing or a modified streaming dongle like Amazon’s Fire TV Stick.
On 15 October, officers from the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) conducted a search at a residence in Wolverhampton, leading to the arrest of a 38-year-old man on suspicion of copyright and money-laundering offences.
The man was suspected of selling illegal streaming packages for others to sell to the public, offering access to Sky channels such as Sports, Entertainment and Cinema.
Authorities are cracking down on people illegally streaming Sky TV (Getty Stock Photos)
Further searches were carried out at four business addresses in Wolverhampton and Coventry, where officers seized the server that was being used to host the streaming service and shut it down, leaving people who thought they were saving money staring at a blank screen.
And, since it’s an illegal operation, they won’t be able to get a refund.
Figures from the Intellectual Property Office show that the economy loses £9 billion every year due to piracy.
“Illegal streaming is a huge issue for the entertainment and creative industries and, while it may seem like a low-risk, high-reward crime, the proceeds are used to fund other serious forms of criminal activity,” said Daryl Fryatt, from PIPCU at City of London Police.
A 38-year-old man from Wolverhampton has been arrested on suspicion of selling the illegal services (Getty Stock Images)
“At the same time, it can expose end users to the risks of data theft, fraud and malware.
“The message of this operation is clear: if you sell illegal streaming services, you will be caught and held to account for your actions.”
Matt Hibbert, Group Director of Anti-Piracy at Sky, added: “When people illegally stream they provide their personal information to criminals and the risks that result are very real.
“We are grateful to the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit for leading this action.
“We’ll continue to do everything we can to protect our content from theft, and to help keep consumers safe.”
In recent months, Sky TV has worked alongside police and anti-piracy organisation FACT to close 3,000 adverts on social media for illegal streaming services. They’ve also handed out cease-and-desist orders to 40 people around the UK.
At the time, officers warned that ‘this is just the start of our enforcement efforts’.
