Reports indicate that Streameast, a prominent source for unauthorized sports broadcasts, has been taken offline following a year-long investigation, according to information from The Athletic.
The Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) has stated that they partnered with law enforcement in Egypt to disrupt the service on August 24, as reported by The Athletic. ACE is a coalition focused on combating piracy, comprising various media organizations such as Amazon and Netflix, among others.
Streameast is said to have amassed 1.6 billion visits within the past year, according to The Athletic. The service facilitated unauthorized streaming of Premier League and Champions League soccer matches, along with NFL, MLB, and NBA games. It also facilitated unauthorized access to pay-per-view events, including mixed martial arts competitions. Streameast reportedly recorded an average of 136 million visits each month.
During the operation, two individuals were taken into custody in Egypt. Authorities reportedly confiscated electronic devices believed to have been used in operating the website. The investigation also exposed a shell corporation, through which it is suspected that $6.2 million in advertising revenue was processed. Approximately $200,000 in cryptocurrency was also discovered. It’s believed that proceeds were used to purchase multiple properties in Egypt, as reported by The Athletic.
ACE collaborated with various governmental organizations, including, “Europol, the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Centre,” per the Athletic.
Charles Rivkin, chairman of ACE, conveyed to The Athletic that the operation represented a “significant accomplishment” in the fight against digital piracy.
“ACE achieved a significant win in its ongoing efforts to identify, discourage, and dismantle criminal operators involved in digital piracy: by dismantling the largest illegal platform for live sports broadcasting,” commented Charles Rivkin, chairman of ACE and chairman and CEO of the Motion Picture Association (MPA).
“With this decisive action, we have achieved substantial progress for sports leagues, entertainment companies, and fans globally — and our worldwide alliance will remain vigilant in identifying and targeting the most significant piracy networks worldwide.”
Following the enforcement action, Streameast’s initial web address is no longer functional, although alternative services have already emerged. ACE communicated to The Athletic that they are aware of these “copycat” websites and are actively addressing the matter.
