Sky secures ruling to block pirate streams

Pay TV operator Sky has won a UK court order to force internet service providers to block pirate services from illegally streaming its sports and drama content.

The FT reported that Sky secured the blocking order last week. The order is designed to oblige UK ISPs to prevent access to illegal streams of its key linear channels, where viewers are required to tune in at a specific time to watch content.

Channels impacted by the order include Sky’s sports offerings and the Sky Atlantic HBO-focused drama offering.

The court ruling gives an Sky additional tool to combat piracy by tapping the services of a third-party technology outfit to identify sources of illicit streaming via IP addresses. This information is then provided to ISPs who are required to block access to these addresses or servers.

The English Premier League has been using stream blocking for a number of years to combat piracy of matches, but the Sky ruling applies to a wider range of content.