Illegal streaming has seen a surge in recent years, a trend not surprising given the ongoing cost-of-living challenges. Many UK households are seeking more affordable ways to access premium content, often turning to unofficial platforms that provide full content at a fraction of the legitimate price.
However, illegal streaming continues to face legal scrutiny, as a popular service offering access to content, including Sky channels, has been permanently shut down. This closure has left paying customers at a loss.
Nishan Silva, a 34-year-old from Hitchin, has been sentenced to three years in prison for his involvement in managing an illicit IPTV service that operated under the names Andy UTV and Ultimate TV Service. Silva, a former accountant, admitted to distributing copyrighted material and engaging in financial crimes.
Detective Constable Daryl Fryatt from the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit emphasized that Silva, leveraging his expertise as an accountant, engaged in serious criminal activities that divert funds from the entertainment industry and pose risks to end-users.
Partners like Sky are working with law enforcement to combat illegal streaming activities, ensuring accountability for those involved. Matt Hibbert, Group Director of Anti-Piracy at Sky, commended the efforts to combat content theft and safeguard consumers from the dangers associated with illegal streaming.
It’s essential to remember that aside from the shutdown of illegal streams, engaging in illegal streaming poses additional risks such as exposure to malware and inappropriate content.