UK GOVERNMENT'S ADVICE ON KODI AND IPTV BOXES

[Salieri]

 

WHAT PIRACY BLOCKS ARE IN PLACE IN THE UK?

Premier League 

The latest High Court order allows internet providers, including BT, EE, Plusnet, Sky, TalkTalk and Virgin Media to block and disrupt servers hosting illegal streams of Premier League matches the moment they are detected.

The blocking order, which was granted by the court under Section 97a of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, will cover the entire 2018/19 season.

It builds on a similar High Court order issued last season. 

According to the Premier League, it was able to disrupt or block nearly 200,000 illegal streams of its content during the 2017/18 football season. 

Elsewhere, it also took down 450,000 illegal clips of Premier League content from social and digital media outlets. 

UEFA

Last year, football body Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) was granted an injunction, which called on BT, Virgin Media, Sky, TalkTalk, EE and Plusnet to block illicit streams of UEFA matches.

Instead of targeting the tube-style sites hosting the illegal football streams, the anti-piracy measure allows ISPs to stops the signal at the server level.

This is essentially killing the weed at its root.

The UEFA injunction covered the 2017/18 season and has yet to be renewed for the upcoming football season.  

 

GOVERNMENT ADVICE ON KODI AND IPTV BOXES

What is 'illicit streaming' and what devices are commonly used? 

'Illicit streaming' as the watching of content without the copyright owner's permission by any means.

Illicit streaming devices are physical boxes that are connected to your TV or USB sticks that plug into the TV such as adapted Amazon Fire sticks and so called 'Kodi' boxes or Android TV boxes.

While they are legal if they are used to watch legitimate content, they are illegal once they are adapted to stream illicit content,

How do you identify an illicit streaming device? 

If you are watching TV shows, films or sporting events where you would normally be paying to view them and you have not paid, you are likely to be using an illicit streaming device. 

'These devices are often purchased online and described as "Fully Loaded, Jail Broken, Plug and Play or Subscription Gift"', according to the IPO.

'They are described using these terms to show that they have been adapted and are functioning as an illicit streaming device.'

'In some cases consumers buy devices and subsequently add the software, this also makes it an illicit streaming device.'

Why you should not buy these devices?

Children are at risk of being exposed to explicit or age inappropriate content.

There are also concerns over fire safety. Some devices from the black market have failed EU safety standards and could cause a fire in the home.

Using an illegal Kodi box also means 'you are depriving industry of the revenue it needs to fund the next generation of TV programmes, films and sporting events we all enjoy', said the IPO. 

'Instead it provides funds for the organised criminals who sell or adapt these illicit devices.'

What should you do if you already have an illegal Kodi box?   

These devices can be used legally by removing the software, the IPO says. 

You can also approach the relevant provider to find out about legal ways to watch your favourite shows. 

Where can you report sellers of illegal Kodi boxes?

The IPO says if you see these devices being offered for sale, tell Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Citizens Advice also  provides free, confidential and independent advice. 

Source: Intellectual Property Office

 

HOW WILL THE BIG MONEY DEAL FOR PREMIER LEAGUE MATCHES AFFECT FOOTBALL FANS?

2019-22 PREMIER LEAGUE UK BROADCASTING RIGHTS

BT SPORT – £975million

32 – matches at 12.30pm on Saturday

15 – matches from two midweek fixture programmes

5 - matches from the split weekend 

SKY SPORTS – £3.579bn

32 – matches at 5.30pm on Saturday

8 – matches at 7.45pm on Saturday

32 – matches at 2pm on Sunday

32 – matches at 4pm on Sunday

24 – matches at either 8pm on Monday or 7.30pm/8pm on Friday

AMAZON - cost undisclosed

20 – matches on Boxing Day and from one midweek fixture programme

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST FANS?  *at current prices

Sky Sports Customers:

Sky Sports - £38 a month

BT Sport - £27.99 a month

Amazon Prime - £5.99 a month

Total - £71.98  a month / £863.76 a year

Sky customers will be able to add BT Sport to their subscription from early 2019 but the cost of a complete sports package has not been revealed

BT Sport Customers:

BT Sport - from £6 a month plus additional broadband cost

Sky Sports - £27.50 a month

Amazon Prime - £5.99 a month

Total - £39.49 a month / £473.88 a year (plus additional broadband cost)

HOW DO YOU ACCESS AMAZON PRIME?

Customers can access Amazon Prime through their television using FireTV or a FireTV Stick.

It is also possible to access the service through a smart television using the Prime Video app.

Subscribers can log in and watch content directly from the Amazon Prime website.

Users can also watch on their smartphones using the Prime Video app as well as games consoles and other streaming media players such as Apple TV and Roku.