A major operation has just taken place in Manchester with illegal streams shut down for good.
Dave Snelling Technology Editor
18:25, 02 Feb 2026Updated 18:46, 02 Feb 2026
Sky TV update(Image: SKY)
Homes that have been enjoying Sky TV without paying the usual monthly subscription fees may suddenly find they can no longer tune in and view sports and movies. It’s just been confirmed that a major police operation has taken place, shutting down a major illegal streaming platform.
The service is thought to have been providing homes with unofficial access to content including from Sky TV’s premium channels.
The major closure took place last week in Manchester with four people arrested and £750,000 worth of equipment seized.
The investigation was launched after Sky reported suspicious activity connected to a large-scale illegal streaming operation. Investigators identified individuals suspected of running an unlawful IPTV service that supplied millions of users across the UK. One suspect is alleged to have earned more than £3 million from the operation. Sky confirmed that the illegal service experienced widespread disruption nationwide.
Homes that accessed the streams haven’t been targeted by police, but they will find that the content they were watching is now blocked from their TV.
“Criminals continue to provide illegal IPTV streaming services to consumers,” said Detective Constable Jordan Day, of the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) at the City of London Police.
“These services are not harmless alternatives; they are examples of organised criminal operations generating millions in illegal profits.
“It is more important than ever that our team works to protect the integrity of broadcasting and the millions of people who rely on it. This operation demonstrates the impact we can have when we work closely with partners like Sky to dismantle these illegal networks, sending a clear message to those who profit from piracy that they will be held to account.”
And Matt Hibbert, Group Director of Anti-Piracy at Sky added: “We thank the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit for taking decisive action against a major pirate operation. We take the protection of our content extremely seriously given the significant investment we make and will continue to work with the police and industry partners to disrupt the criminal networks behind piracy.
“People who watch illegal streams should know that it isn’t a victimless crime: recent research by BeStreamWise advise that nearly 65% of illegal streamers have faced security scares like malware through these unlawful methods. This action will help keep consumers, their devices and their personal data safe.”