Sports Streams Cracked Down On

Submitted by formerlyanonymous on

This comes up at ATDHE.NET now.

US agents have sidelined 10 websites they said were linking viewers to pirated telecasts of live sporting events including professional basketball, hockey, wrestling, and other sports.

Federal officers armed with court-issued warrants seized the online domains of Atdhe.net, Channelsurfing.net, HQ-streams.com, HQstreams.net, Firstrow.net, Ilemi.com, Iilemi.com, Iilemii.com, Rojadirecta.org, and Rojadirecta.com.

Visitors to any of the websites were being redirected on Thursday to a notice stating that the particular domain had been seized because of criminal copyright violations punishable by prison time and fines.

Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) teamed with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in New York to execute the warrants.

Happy hunting for new sites.

bronxblue

February 3rd, 2011 at 10:09 PM ^

Tough luck and that sucks, but I don't blame them.  Those network providers spend big bucks for these events (esp. ones that are part of major packets), and they obviously will use any means (including government intervention) to keep them.

tf

February 3rd, 2011 at 10:55 PM ^

I'm neither agreeing nor disagreeing with this, but I heard a report on the radio about this on the way home from work tonight.  This was described as important economically.  If people are viewing free streams illegally instead of paying for them (PPV, or subscribing to cable, or whatever), those companies are losing money, and the government is losing the tax revenue.  So, the government would tell you that they're spending your tax dollars to crack down on this to stimulate the economy and get other people to pay more tax dollars.

Sgt. Wolverine

February 4th, 2011 at 12:53 AM ^

a la carte, I have no sympathy for the cable networks being pirated.  I don't have cable, and I don't have the money to pay for stupidly expensive cable plans overflowing with channels I have to subsidize even though I don't want them.  Can I have a cheap plan with three sports channels and nothing else?  No?  Okay then.  Is ESPN3 going to be openly available, and not just available to people who fit certain criteria?  No?  Then by all means, keep the illegal internet streams alive.  For some of us, that's the only realistic option.

Seth9

February 3rd, 2011 at 11:14 PM ^

These sites have been up for a very long time, can be found with a quick Google search, and have already been put up again under new domain names. So this would be the most ineffective semi-sinister lobbying effort ever, if that's the case.

Dwightlongfellow

February 4th, 2011 at 9:09 AM ^

I am in the army living in Germany and these streams are the only way I could watch the games. I don't what I would have done if I would have missed both the lions and wolverines games. Glad they got them going again thanks for posting the new ones.

BlueMk1690

February 4th, 2011 at 9:56 AM ^

A lot of people watching streams aren't taking money from anyone, they're watching stuff that just plain isn't aired where they live. In those live chats on streaming sites I'd say at least half the people are foreigners.

Illegal streams would find a lot less support if they truly globalize the entertainment industry instead of maintaining outdated and now artificial international barriers.

beaglehusky

February 4th, 2011 at 10:11 AM ^

I live in Norway, and atdhe was the only way to get somewhat decent definition for the UM games.  I tried slingbox but it totally blows.  The other alternative is to watch the Notre Dame games narrated by some dumbass, which is the one game shown here live.  They usually replay one Big Ten game on Tuesday or Wednesday mornings, but you could end up watching Indiana vs Minnesota or something like that.

I second the appreciation for posting the new ones, let's see how long they last.

Oh, and I do pay taxes in the US.  I agree that there are many other things that law enforcement could focus on.