The fight against illegal streaming via Fire TV Sticks has taken an unexpected turn, with Sky asking Amazon to take further steps to stop it.
Illegal streaming of content continues to grow in popularity, with millions of UK households believed to have abandoned traditional TV platforms in favour of unofficial services that provide access to content at significantly lower prices, and sometimes for free. So-called dodgy Fire TV Sticks have made life even easier for users, with many buying the devices pre-loaded with premium channels including sports and movie channels.
With the cost of living crisis continuing to take a toll on finances, it's no surprise that many are tempted to cancel their expensive subscriptions. However, being able to watch TV shows for free may soon be a little more difficult.
The huge rise in illegal streaming hasn't gone unnoticed by content providers, and now one service has spoken out and explained why it would like to see Amazon do more to stop the distribution of the Fire TV Stick.
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At the recent Financial Times 'Business of Football' conference, Sky's chief operating officer Nick Herm revealed more about streaming devices.
“When you're chatting with friends and colleagues or watching football, people know they can get hacked Fire Sticks and access pirated services on them,” Herm said.
“There are football fans who have Fire Sticks printed right on their shirts. We're not getting enough engagement with some of the tech giants, especially Amazon, to solve some of these problems where people are buying these devices in bulk.”
It's clear that a consumer is unlikely to buy hundreds of Fire TV Sticks at one time, and Sky apparently believes that those who do are then loading them up with streaming apps and reselling them online.
For those who don’t know, Fire TV Sticks are open-source, allowing attackers to install unofficial apps. This software is not available in major app stores, and once installed, it can be used to watch illegal content on the internet.
Amazon has since defended its position, telling the FT that the company “delivers a quality streaming experience to customers while actively promoting a streaming environment that respects intellectual property rights.”
The retail giant also noted that it always informs users about the dangers of using unofficial providers to access content.
“On Fire TV, we have always encouraged our customers to use legal channels to access content and have placed warnings on devices informing customers of the risks associated with installing or using apps from unknown sources,” Amazon said.
This very public attack on Fire TV Sticks by Sky is unlike anything we’ve seen before. There have already been arrests this year and more pressure on sellers of pre-installed Fire devices. If Amazon now complies with Sky’s request, it could open a new chapter in the fight against illegal streaming.
Sourse: www.mirror.co.uk
