Huge Fire TV Stick clampdown blocks more UK homes from viewing Sky TV for free

With the cost of living crisis still hurting wallets it's not surprising that homes are looking for a cheaper way of watching premium TV. So-called "dodgy Fire TV Sticks" have boomed in popularity in recent years with these devices often adapted to allow UK users to watch premier content - from providers such as Sky - without paying the usual fees. The growth in illegal streaming hasn't gone unnoticed and UK authorities continue to crack down on those selling Fire TV Sticks that come pre-loaded with access to paid TV.

One seller has just been handed a two-year suspended sentence after pleading guilty to charges of promoting and selling illegally modified firesticks.

Kevin James O'Donnell, a 41-year-old man from Liverpool, was found to be offering devices that allowed buyers to watch services - such as Sky and TNT Sports - without paying the usual monthly fees. This saved them hundreds of pounds and basically meant they were watching things like the Premier League for most of the year for free.

Those buying a Fire Stick from O'Donnell simply paid an upfront fee of between £40 - £85 for a whole year's access - that's almost the same price as just two months of Sky Sports from Sky.

It's thought that, since July 2022, around 3,600 devices were sold via Facebook and WhatsApp with O'Donnell defrauding content owners of over half a million pounds.

This conviction means those who had bought the Fire TV Sticks are now blocked from accessing content and no more UK homes will be able to buy devices from O'Donnell's illegal online marketplace.

Speaking about the conviction, Kieron Sharp, CEO of FACT, said: "We are immensely grateful for the diligent work carried out by Merseyside Police Cyber Crime Unit. Their collaboration with FACT has been instrumental in holding O’Donnell accountable for his actions. This case highlights the importance of protecting legitimate providers as well as the significant impact that coordinated law enforcement efforts can have on combating digital piracy.

"The message is very clear: if you sell a device that provides access to content that is not licensed to you or owned by you, you could face criminal investigation, prosecution and a conviction."

And Detective Inspector Steve Frame added: "We have been working closely with FACT to ensure that O’Donnell is made to answer for his actions, and this was a great example of how police and industry experts can come together to tackle this type of criminality. The investigation found that O’Donnell had made a significant amount of money from selling these illegally adapted firesticks and had done so over a number of years through Facebook and WhatsApp.

"Illegal streaming is far from a victimless crime, and as well as the impact it has on businesses and content creators, it essentially means that legitimate subscribers pay for those who illegally access such services."

FACT is keen to point out that this prosecution is the latest in a crackdown on modified Firestick piracy. In March, FACT in conjunction with the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit and the Premier League targeted a further 11 individuals across the UK selling illegal access to premium TV content, including live Premier League matches via modified or ‘fully loaded’ smart TV devices or sticks. One person was arrested, and 10 others were interviewed under caution.