Four people have been arrested in connection with an illegal IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) operation in Manchester, England, after 10 servers worth around £750,000 were seized by officers.
In recent years, football fans have seen the cost of watching the sport they love on TV rise significantly, with supporters forking out thousands on various channels to be able to tune in to the action.
The increasing cost of living has caused some to use cheaper IPTV streaming services, which are illegal.
The service is often loaded onto a ‘dodgy’ Fire TV Stick, which effectively allows users to illegally stream content from channels in the UK and abroad that they haven’t paid for.
In 2025, the Intellectual Property Office estimated that 6.2 million British people access illegally streamed TV, and the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) states that they could be prosecuted for criminal offences under Section 11 of the Fraud Act 2006.
On Monday (February 2), City of London Police’s Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) confirmed that they were working with partners in the TV industry to combat illegal IPTV streaming.
In a press release, the force confirmed that four arrests were made in Manchester last week, with officers finding ten servers and associated equipment during a raid.
Each item was reportedly valued at around £75,000, equal to £750,000 overall.
Sky made the force aware of suspicious activity linked to illicit streaming. Investigators reportedly found that the illegal streaming operation was serving millions of users in the UK.
One suspect allegedly made £3 million in revenue from the operation.
Matt Hibbert, Group Director of Anti-Privacy at Sky, said: “We take the protection of our content extremely seriously, given the significant investment we make and will continue to work with the police and industry partners to disrupt the criminal networks behind piracy.
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“People who watch illegal streams should know that it isn’t a victimless crime: recent research by BeStreamWise advise that nearly 65% of illegal streamers have faced security scares like malware through these unlawful methods. This action will help keep consumers, their devices and their personal data safe.”
Meanwhile, Detective Constable Jordan Day of the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) at the City of London Police, added: “It is more important than ever that our team works to protect the integrity of broadcasting and the millions of people who rely on it. This operation demonstrates the impact we can have when we work closely with partners like Sky to dismantle these illegal networks, sending a clear message to those who profit from piracy that they will be held to account.”
Topics: IPTV
Luke Davies