Key Highlights
- Amazon is stepping up efforts to block apps providing pirated content on its Fire TV Sticks.
- About 4.7 million UK adults watched illegal streams in the past six months, with many using Fire Stick devices.
- The new 4K Select Fire TV Stick includes enhanced security measures and only allows apps from Amazon’s app store.
- Amazon is working with the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) to combat piracy.
Background on Illegal Sports Streaming
The illegal streaming market has grown significantly, with various devices facilitating this practice. In a recent episode of The Athletic FC Podcast titled “The Underground World of Illegal Streaming,” exclusive data from YouGov Sport revealed that 4.7 million UK adults watched illegal streams over the past six months, with 31% using Fire Stick devices.
Amazon’s New Measures to Combat Piracy
Amid this growing issue, Amazon is rolling out a tougher approach to combat illegal streaming on its Fire TV Sticks. The company launched a new 4K Select Fire TV Stick last month, which includes enhanced security measures via a new Vega operating system. According to Amazon, only apps available in the Amazon app store will be accessible to customers.
The move comes as part of Amazon’s ongoing efforts to protect its users and support creators from piracy.
A spokesperson for Amazon stated: “Piracy is illegal and we’ve always worked to block it from our app store. We’ll now block apps identified as providing access to pirated content, including those downloaded from outside our app store.” The company added that the clampdown will apply to both new and old devices.
Collaboration with Industry Partners
To further address this issue, Amazon has partnered with the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), a group fighting piracy on behalf of over 50 media companies. Larissa Knapp, chief content protection officer for the Motion Picture Association, which is part of ACE, highlighted: “It’s my obligation and my job to pull together the data to help these companies make informed decisions and that’s something that we work on with Amazon.” The roll-out has started in Germany and France and will be expanded globally over the coming weeks and months.
Alexander Sutcliffe from Enders Analysis, a leading tech researcher featured in the podcast episode, criticized previous versions of Fire TV Sticks for enabling piracy. He stated that these devices “provide a very easy path for malware to enter into a home-computing environment.” Amazon addressed this by emphasizing that pirated content violates its policies and compromises customer security.
Implications for Sports Organizations
The measures taken by Amazon are likely to be welcomed by sports organizations, such as the Premier League. In addition, UEFA has joined ACE to clamp down on the theft of copyrighted content and has TV rights agreements with Amazon for Champions League fixtures. This move could have significant implications for illegal streaming platforms and their funding mechanisms.
Amazon’s push against piracy is part of a broader trend among tech companies looking to protect users from illegal content and ensure safer online environments. While this initiative aims to address security concerns, it also raises questions about the balance between user freedom and corporate control over device usage.
