Fire TV Sticks are getting an update that will block users from watching content without permission.
So-called ‘dodgy’ Fire TV Stick have exploded in popularity in recent years, and it’s not hard to see why. These devices, which are usually adapted by cyber criminals, offer full access to premium sports and movies, with users often paying a fraction of the price of signing up for official platforms like Sky.
With the cost-of-living crisis hurting wallets millions are thought to have made the jump to illegal streaming but the days of tuning into the Premier Legue via a Fire TV Stick could be numbered.
Amazon is joining the fight against this popular practice. The company states that, as of today, it will begin blocking apps suspected of offering illegal streams.
“Piracy is illegal, and we’ve always worked to block it from our Appstore,” an Amazon spokesperson told Mirror Online.
“Through an expanded program led by the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), a global coalition fighting digital piracy, we’ll now block apps identified as providing access to pirated content, including those downloaded from outside our Appstore.
“This builds on our ongoing efforts to support creators and protect customers, as piracy can also expose users to malware, viruses, and fraud.”
Once an app has been flagged, users will see a message that explains why it is being blocked. The service will then cease to work, leaving viewers without access.
Amazon isn’t ending the ability to sideload applications, and all official streaming apps – like Disney+, Netflix and Prime Video – will continue to work, but the change should make it much harder to watch without paying for an official subscription.
It’s a seismic update that could finally put an end to homes watching premium content at a vastly reduced price or even for free.
Amazon is clearly aware that the move will be unpopular, but it seems the company no longer wants its products to be used illegally.
The update will start being rolled out in Europe first, with all UK users then being blocked at some point in the future.
Although this change will go some way toward stopping illegal streaming, it won’t address the underlying issue of why people are streaming illegally in the first place.
Top analyst Paolo Pescatore told Mirror Online that the change is long overdue, and the move is a “step in the right direction”.
However, there is a broader problem: consumers are being forced to pay increasingly high subscription fees to access content.
“Broadcasters are spending more to secure live sports rights and passing these costs onto consumers who can’t afford them, leading to a messy, fragmented experience,” Pesctair told us.
Of course, there are other dangers when streaming illegally, including being exposed to malware and inappropriate content. However, warnings about those issues haven’t put people off joining the streaming revolution. This new block from Amazon could now finally put a stop to watching without paying.