A significant police operation recently shut down an illegal streaming platform that provided unauthorized access to premium content from Sky TV. The closure occurred in Manchester, resulting in the arrest of four individuals and the seizure of equipment valued at £750,000.

The investigation was initiated following reports of suspicious activities linked to a large-scale illegal streaming service. It was discovered that the service supplied millions of users in the UK with unlawful IPTV content. One suspect allegedly earned over £3 million from the operation, causing widespread disruption nationwide.

While authorities did not target homes accessing the illegal streams, viewers will now find their access to the content blocked. Detective Constable Jordan Day from the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) emphasized that such services are not harmless and are run by organized criminal networks profiting from illegal activities.

Sky’s Group Director of Anti-Piracy, Matt Hibbert, praised the police action against the pirate operation, highlighting the company’s commitment to protecting its content investments. He warned viewers that illegal streaming poses security risks, with research showing that nearly 65% of illegal streamers have encountered malware issues. This crackdown aims to safeguard consumers, their devices, and personal information.