Illegal streaming has been on the rise in recent times, a trend that comes as no surprise. Due to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, many households in the UK are seeking more affordable ways to access premium content, often resorting to unofficial platforms that offer full content at a fraction of the legitimate price.
Despite the temptation, illegal streaming continues to attract attention, with a well-known service offering content, including Sky channels, recently being permanently shut down. This closure has left subscribers who had paid for the service at a financial loss.
In a significant development, Nishan Silva, a 34-year-old individual from Hitchin, has been sentenced to three years in prison by UK authorities for his involvement in managing an illicit IPTV service. Operating under the aliases Andy UTV and Ultimate TV Service, the platform had a substantial following and provided unauthorized access to various streaming services.
Silva, a former accountant, appeared at Inner London Crown Court on October 2 and admitted to charges such as distributing copyrighted material and engaging in criminal financial activities. His role in operating the illegal subscription-based platform enabled UK households to illicitly access multiple streaming services, resulting in substantial revenue, estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Detective Constable Daryl Fryatt from the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit described Silva as a skilled accountant who misused his expertise and position to commit serious crimes. The unit remains committed to pursuing individuals profiting from illegal streaming and disrupting their activities to safeguard the entertainment industry’s financial interests and protect end-users from potential risks such as data theft, fraud, and malware.
Matt Hibbert, Group Director of Anti-Piracy at Sky, expressed gratitude to the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit for their efforts in prosecuting the case, highlighting the courts’ seriousness in addressing such crimes. Sky reaffirmed its dedication to combating content theft and safeguarding consumers from the dangers associated with illegal streaming.
It is important to note that apart from the closure of illicit streams, illegal streaming poses additional risks, including exposure to malware and inappropriate content.