Police have shut down a major illegal streaming platform, affecting homes that were accessing Sky TV without paying subscription fees. The operation in Manchester led to the arrest of four individuals and the seizure of equipment worth £750,000.
Sky initiated the investigation after noticing suspicious activities related to an illegal streaming service. The service provided unauthorized access to premium channels, reaching millions of users across the UK. One suspect reportedly earned over £3 million from the operation.
Although homes using the service have not been targeted, they will no longer be able to view the blocked content. Detective Constable Jordan Day emphasized the criminal nature of such operations, highlighting the need to protect broadcasting integrity and combat piracy.
Matt Hibbert, Group Director of Anti-Piracy at Sky, praised the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit for dismantling the pirate operation. He emphasized the importance of safeguarding content investments and collaborating with authorities to disrupt criminal networks behind piracy.
Illegal streaming poses risks to consumers, as revealed by research indicating security threats like malware. Taking action against piracy aims to protect consumers, their devices, and personal data from such dangers.