Scammers sell US$1bil a year of stolen television shows

Last year, thieves that stole live TV feeds and resold them online generated about US$1bil (RM4.23bil) in sales, according to a report. — StockSnap/Pixabay

It looks like a real cable subscription, with familiar television shows, advertisements and even a customer-service line. But the product, known as a pirated Internet-protocol television service, is illegal.

Last year, thieves that stole live TV feeds and resold them online generated about US$1bil (RM4.23bil) in sales, according to a report from nonprofit group Digital Citizens Alliance and Nagra, a unit of antipiracy consulting firm Kudelski Group. The practice has likely ballooned during the coronavirus pandemic, as homebound Americans search for ways to stay entertained indoors, they said.