In a bid to stop illegal streaming, millions of households have been blocked from watching Sky TV for free.David Snelling and Eilidh Farquhar Trainee Trends, Showbiz and Lifestyle Writer
09:18, 03 Feb 2026
Millions of Brits will lose access to Sky content for free as an illegal streaming operation as been shut down.(Image: Getty Images)
Millions of households across the country are resorting to streaming entertainment and sports illegally in order to dodge TV Licence and monthly subscription fees. By using dodgy devices and apps, Brits are risking their own security in order to watch premium content free of charge or at a lower price.
However, households may not be able to get away with this for much longer as a major streaming crackdown is currently taking place. The UK police have confirmed that a major illegal streaming service has been shut down.
This will result in millions of streams being taken offline, which mainly featured content from Sky TV channels that can only be accessed with a subscription. This shutdown means users will now longer be able to view any of the unauthorised content this operation provided.
The huge law enforcement crackdown took place in Manchester last week, reports the Express. According to the police, an estimated £750,000 worth of streaming equipment was seized and four people were arrested.
This illegal operation was initially investigated due to Sky flagging suspicious activity linked to a large-scale activity piracy network. From there, officers were able to identify a number of individuals allegedly running the illegal IPTV service that provided content to millions of UK users.
It is thought that one suspect was able to make more than £3million from the corrupt operation. This recent crackdown has been said to be an example of the law enforcement and industry collaborating to disrupt organised financial crime.
Brits using the streams to watch Sky sports or films will now see themselves blocked.(Image: Getty Images)
It should be noted that the police are not targeting households that were using the illegal streams instead of paying for the content. However, those who were evading the law will now find that they have been blocked from their usual sports, TV shows and films.
Warning Brits of the dangers of illegal streaming, Detective Constable Jordan Day from the Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) at the City of London Police, said: “Criminals continue to offer illegal IPTV services to consumers.
“These services are not harmless alternatives; they are organised criminal enterprises generating millions in illegal profits.
“This operation shows the importance of protecting the integrity of broadcasting and the millions of people who depend on it. Working closely with partners like Sky allows us to dismantle these networks and send a clear message that those who profit from piracy will be held accountable.”
Sharing his gratitude towards the police, Sky’s group director at Anti-Piracy Matt Hibbert added: “We’re grateful to PIPCU for taking decisive steps against a major pirate operation.
“We invest heavily in our content and take its protection extremely seriously. We’ll continue working with police and industry partners to disrupt the criminal networks behind piracy.
“Anyone using illegal streams should understand this isn’t a victimless activity. Research from BeStreamWise shows nearly 65 per cent of illegal streamers have experienced security issues, including malware. This action helps protect consumers, their devices and their personal data.”
This comes as 17 areas in the UK have been hit with a crackdown in the use of dodgy TV Fire Sticks. Research has found that around four million people chose to stream illegally in 2023.
A spokesperson for National Trading Standards has warned: “Accessing pirated content through illegal TV fire sticks undermines the UK’s entertainment industry, putting its talented workforce and supply chains at risk by depriving them of fair earnings and revenue.
“It also puts consumers at risk by exposing them to illegal software that can put their data and bank details in jeopardy. An important reminder to all those who buy and sell TV firesticks is that crime does not pay, it breaches copyright law and we encourage people to report suspected cases to the Citizens Advice consumer service.”