Illegal streaming has become widespread in recent times, a trend not unexpected. Amid the ongoing financial challenges faced by many in the UK, numerous households are seeking more affordable ways to access premium content. This often leads them to unofficial platforms that offer complete content access at a fraction of the legitimate cost.
Despite the allure, illegal streaming continues to attract attention, with a well-known service, providing content such as Sky channels, recently being permanently shut down. This closure has left subscribers who had paid for the service at a financial loss.
Furthermore, the individual behind this online service has received a significant prison sentence from UK authorities. Nishan Silva, aged 34 and residing in Hitchin, has been sentenced to three years in jail for his involvement in managing and facilitating an unauthorized IPTV service. This service, operating under the aliases Andy UTV and Ultimate TV Service, boasted thousands of followers.
Appearing at Inner London Crown Court on October 2, Silva admitted to various offenses, including distributing copyrighted material and using criminal proceeds. Previously employed as an accountant, Silva played a key role in operating the illicit subscription-based platform, which allowed UK residents to access multiple streaming services illegally and is believed to have generated hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Detective Constable Daryl Fryatt of the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit stated, “Silva, a highly intelligent accountant, misused his expertise and trusted position to engage in serious criminal activities. This serves as a reminder that PIPCU will pursue individuals profiting from illegal streaming and disrupt their operations.”
Matt Hibbert, Group Director of Anti-Piracy at Sky, expressed gratitude to the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit for their pursuit of this case. He emphasized Sky’s commitment to combatting content theft and safeguarding consumers from the dangers associated with illegal streaming.
It is essential to remember that besides the shutdown of illegal streaming services, users face other risks such as exposure to malware and inappropriate content.
