John Whittingdale Calls for End to Illegal Streaming

Illegal streaming using Kodi boxes should be stopped once and for all in 2018.

21:27 04 February 2018

John Whittingdale, the former Culture Secretary, is calling on the Government to put a stop on illegal streaming using Kodi boxes “once and for all in 2018.” He said that the illegal activity is affecting not just producers and Hollywood stars but most especially the people behind the camera.

 

In a newspaper, Mr Whittingdale wrote: “Researchers have suggested that Kodi box pirates are siphoning as much as $4.2 billion a year out of the creative economy in the United States.

 

“In the UK, the impact on television and film producers alone is estimated at around £820 million – and that figure doesn’t include losses incurred by pay TV providers and sports rights holders.

 

“That is cash that should be going towards developing the next Downton Abbey, or helping to fund Premier League clubs thus allowing them to support grass roots football.

 

“If we as a nation are serious about getting tough on the pirates, the government must get on with developing a legal framework for tackling this threat.”

 

Despite stricter rules and stiffer fines, the number of Kodi users continues to surge, with many ditching paid TV permanently. Based on recent statistics, there are now more than five million homes in the UK alone that are using Kodi boxes, which compatible apps can be used to illegally stream copyrighted content online.