Amazon is implementing measures to prevent the illegal streaming of sports content on its Fire Stick devices. This crackdown is a response to the widespread use of Fire Sticks for accessing unauthorized sports broadcasts.
Investigations, including one by The Athletic in collaboration with YouGov Sport, revealed that a significant number of individuals, particularly in the UK, are using Fire Sticks to stream sports illegally. Historically, the open developer software on previous Fire Stick versions allowed users to install streaming platforms not available in Amazon's official app store, facilitating piracy.
The company's new strategy involves a revised operating system that will restrict the installation of apps solely to those available within Amazon's curated store. This move is significant because sports broadcasting rights represent a massive financial industry, with broadcasters paying billions for access to popular sporting events. The prevalence of illegal streaming can devalue these expensive broadcast rights by offering a free alternative to consumers.
