A new crackdown on Fire Sticks and IPTV over the illegal streaming of Premier League football has been enforced, with one arrest made.
In recent times, with fans feeling priced out of watching football on channels like Sky Sports and TNT Sports, many have turned to IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) services to tune in to Premier League coverage.
IPTV, which typically has a monthly or yearly subscription, is often loaded onto jailbroken Amazon Fire Sticks or so-called "dodgy" boxes and includes various feeds to games, including 3pm fixtures which cannot be broadcasted live in the UK.
With copyright law breached in a major way, authorities continue to make a huge effort to limit the use of IPTV and the latest move is a significant one as they attempt to "disrupt and dismantle piracy operations".
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In a two-week operation, FACT (Federation Against Copyright Theft) and police services targeted 30 suppliers of illegal IPTV services, visiting them in person as well as issuing cease-and-desist warnings by post.
Individuals from London, Cheshire, Kent, the East and West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and many other regions were warned about the distribution of the devices or else they face criminal prosecution.
A 42-year-old man from Newport, South Wales, was arrested for suspected involvement in illegal IPTV operations and specifically illicit Fire Sticks. Several devices were seized and are undergoing forensic inspection.
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It follows on from 29-year-old Jonathan Edge, from Liverpool, being hit with a three-year prison sentence last month following a private prosecution overseen by the Premier League.
He continued to sell illegal Fire Sticks through Facebook and word-of-mouth despite multiple warnings and pleaded guilty to three offences under the Fraud Act.
His own use of the device was also treated as a criminal offence.
Commenting on the crackdown, FACT CEO Kieron Sharp said: “Our cease-and-desist measures are not just warnings—they are the first step toward holding offenders accountable. Many who ignored these notices in the past are now facing arrest and criminal charges. We strongly advise anyone involved in these activities to stop immediately.
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“If you’re supplying or using illicit streaming devices or illegal IPTV subscriptions, take this as a clear warning: you are breaking the law and risk facing serious consequences.
“We will continue working with police to track down and shut down these illegal operations. The police across the UK have been unstinting in their efforts to tackle this criminality and we are grateful for their assistance.
“To those using illegal streaming services, the message is that you’re not just committing a crime; you are putting yourself at risk. These services often expose users to malware, scams, and data theft, with no recourse when things go wrong. The safest, smartest and only choice is to stick to legitimate providers for your entertainment.”
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In a further disruption to illegal IPTV activity, FACT issued a number of takedown requests to social media platforms such as X, Facebook and TikTok, as well as online marketplaces.
A 2023 YouGov poll found that one in 10 people from Great Britain admitted to illegal streaming.
Topics: Premier League, IPTV
Josh Lawless