U.S. seizes 10 sports streaming websites (1 Viewer)

[Mello]

I have friends who are completely on streaming content, using a paid subscription to Hulu to get the streams in real-time (guess you have to wait 24 hours for the free service).

The only drawback, he said, was sports. You would have to contract with different networks online to get their content individually. He also said up in the Pacific Northwest, some online content providers were making deals with different providers to produce package deals.

What does NFL.com provide online for pay? All I watch is football, so would gladly pay some amount to NFL.com to be able to stream pro games.

For the NFL, since the beginning of the year DirecTV has offered the games online without requiring you to have a dish:

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/content/spor...l_online_mobile

Not cheap though. Cost $300 and it looks like they've raised that to $335.

 

[Kev4029]

All the anti government talk is hilarious.

Do you people think you should be allowed to watch any game you want? Why do you feel that is your right?

And the other talk of "I guess they didn't have anything better to do"...just like speeders who get busted then whine that the cops should be out solving real crimes.

"Do you people think you should be allowed to watch any game you want?"Yes, for a fee. If the league doesn't ensure people have legal access to their product then I have no problems with people finding another way to get access.

"Why do you feel that is your right?'

Because the sports leagues have got me interested in them. If McDonald's advertises some awesome new burger, I'm going to be upset if the local one doesn't sell it.

Also, the people who complain about speeding tickets are right. Police should focus on doing their job of protecting and serving the community rather than setting ups speed traps to fine drivers, 90% of which are no danger to anyone around them. The cops causing people to break check usually are more of a danger than anyone speeding. It's just another racket to take money from people.

Exactly, you want McDonalds to sell it...but you want the NFL to give it to you for free.People who complain about speeding tickets are not right. The police are doing their jobs protecting the community as speed is a large cause in traffic fatalities.

As far as the sites, the NFL isn't the only sport. The sites that were shut down do more traffic in soccer than any American league. Very often, the soccer match I want to watch is not available for any fee from anyone. The league simply either doesn't offer the match for TV or there's 5 matches going on at once and only 1 or 2 networks in the US that cover it. In that case, I see no issue watching some stream from a station in some European country that is broadcasting the match I want to see.Before this year, the NFL was the same for anyone that could not get DirecTV. This year they were wise enough to offer it online to non-DirecTV subscribers. The service was pretty poor though and I often had to go to an illegal stream because of the site issues. Part of the problem here is the broadcast monopolies these leagues are allowed to set up.

For driving, people going 10 over the speed limit are no danger. The speed limits in most areas are way lower than the safe travelling speed and are often set up with the sole purpose of getting people to speed so they can be fined. It has very little to do with protecting anyone.

Being a traffic engineer, I can assure you this is not true. Speed limits are at the discretion of engineers not people wanting to make money for the city, that isn't to say that sometimes speed limits are too slow, but its not for a money grab. On the other hand, some law agencies do take advantage of posted speed limits and sit on spots that are probably posted lower than they should be.

 

[sho nuff]

As far as the sites, the NFL isn't the only sport. The sites that were shut down do more traffic in soccer than any American league. Very often, the soccer match I want to watch is not available for any fee from anyone. The league simply either doesn't offer the match for TV or there's 5 matches going on at once and only 1 or 2 networks in the US that cover it. In that case, I see no issue watching some stream from a station in some European country that is broadcasting the match I want to see.Before this year, the NFL was the same for anyone that could not get DirecTV. This year they were wise enough to offer it online to non-DirecTV subscribers. The service was pretty poor though and I often had to go to an illegal stream because of the site issues. Part of the problem here is the broadcast monopolies these leagues are allowed to set up.For driving, people going 10 over the speed limit are no danger. The speed limits in most areas are way lower than the safe travelling speed and are often set up with the sole purpose of getting people to speed so they can be fined. It has very little to do with protecting anyone.

I don't disagree that things should be available to you. I disagree that it should just be free.I don't see an issue with people taking advantage of those things being open...and I don't have a problem with the laws as they are being enforced.You don't know that driving 10 mph over is no danger. And if they allow 10 miles and hour over...do they then allow 15...20? When does it end.

 

[Man in the yellow hat]

The more Internet viewership, the less valuable TV is.

I just feel this is flat out wrong. You need to look at where the eyeballs are right now. YouTube, Hulu, Netlix, Amazon on Demand, MLB Season Pass (though blackout restrictions are dumb). Combine that with Internet enabled TVs, Roku, streaming Blu-Ray players and Wiis. The consumer is demanding streaming service, and I do not believe that is going to change. If you're an advertiser, you should be embracing the shift. You're still going to get eyeballs, regardless of how consumers are watching the game. It's not like streaming an NFL game somehow means no Ads. We are all conditioned to accept ads with live sports, and there's no reason to change that when broadcating over the Internet vs. over the air.I do realize this is a complicated issue, mostly because of the broadcast rights and how much networks pay for exclusive deals. But to those of you saying that we're expecting something for free that we should be paying for, I dont' think that really is the case.I'm going to watch the Super Bowl. For free. On my over the air antenna. Broadcast in HD. Why couldn't the exclusive broadcaster also offer it as a stream at no cost to the consumer? Why is it any more complicated? You still get the eyeballs. You still get the Ad revenue.

 

[belljr]

The more Internet viewership, the less valuable TV is.

I just feel this is flat out wrong. You need to look at where the eyeballs are right now. YouTube, Hulu, Netlix, Amazon on Demand, MLB Season Pass (though blackout restrictions are dumb). Combine that with Internet enabled TVs, Roku, streaming Blu-Ray players and Wiis. The consumer is demanding streaming service, and I do not believe that is going to change. If you're an advertiser, you should be embracing the shift. You're still going to get eyeballs, regardless of how consumers are watching the game. It's not like streaming an NFL game somehow means no Ads. We are all conditioned to accept ads with live sports, and there's no reason to change that when broadcating over the Internet vs. over the air.I do realize this is a complicated issue, mostly because of the broadcast rights and how much networks pay for exclusive deals. But to those of you saying that we're expecting something for free that we should be paying for, I dont' think that really is the case.I'm going to watch the Super Bowl. For free. On my over the air antenna. Broadcast in HD. Why couldn't the exclusive broadcaster also offer it as a stream at no cost to the consumer? Why is it any more complicated? You still get the eyeballs. You still get the Ad revenue.

The SuperBowl is probably a bad example.If you live in Green Bay but want to see all the Tampa Bay games, that game is not "free"DirectTV and TV paid huge dollars for those rights. I think it's bad marketing by the NFL to have it that exclusive but they do.

 

[glumpy]

Just another reason why I hate our government, because it does what it wants.

You hate the government because they are enforcing laws? That sounds pretty ignorant to me. Personally, I believe that the government has it tentacles in too many things (healthcare for one) and we are better off with less government control, however, if you have a problem with the law, then campaign to change the law. Don't complain about the people that enforce the laws. That's just stoopid.

the laws are dumb and not practical with todays biz models/real life. The NFL and every league should be fired for incompetence at following the RIAA and the dying gatekeepers of the information age 1.0

for a counterpoint and another example of how ####### stupid the RIAA is http://www.wired.com/magazine/2010/12/mf_spotify/

19.01

Spotify Is the Coolest Music Service You Can't Use

By Neal Pollack December 27, 2010 | 12:00 pm | Wired January 2011

That's awesome! Really too bad there's such a built in hurdle to bringing it to this country.

 

[LottsFinger]

According to the government's complaint, which was unsealed Wednesday, each of the seized sites aggregated illegal, pirated broadcasts, and provided links to site visitors.Some of the world's biggest sports leagues were allegedly victimized, including the National Football League, National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, World Wrestling Entertainment and the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

An elementary school principal was gunned down in his office in my area yesterday. I am sure it will ease the pain of the family knowing that we won't be able to stream football games. Maybe it's time we got our priorities straight in this country.People seam to confused, thinking the Gov is here for us. It's clearly taking care of big business not the people.sorry to bring down the pool.

 

[Shtaym Syek]

Has anyone pointed out yet that it's not a constitutional right to watch football games?

If you don't have access in your particular situation, it's not an excuse to break copyright law.

 

[thriftyrocker]

I'm going to watch the Super Bowl. For free. On my over the air antenna. Broadcast in HD. Why couldn't the exclusive broadcaster also offer it as a stream at no cost to the consumer? Why is it any more complicated? You still get the eyeballs. You still get the Ad revenue.

SNF does this every week.(Edit: removed something that didn't make sense:()

 

[Andrew Garda]

Just another reason why I hate our government, because it does what it wants.

You hate the government because they are enforcing laws? That sounds pretty ignorant to me. Personally, I believe that the government has it tentacles in too many things (healthcare for one) and we are better off with less government control, however, if you have a problem with the law, then campaign to change the law. Don't complain about the people that enforce the laws. That's just stoopid.

the laws are dumb and not practical with todays biz models/real life. The NFL and every league should be fired for incompetence at following the RIAA and the dying gatekeepers of the information age 1.0

for a counterpoint and another example of how ####### stupid the RIAA is http://www.wired.com/magazine/2010/12/mf_spotify/

19.01

Spotify Is the Coolest Music Service You Can't Use

By Neal Pollack December 27, 2010 | 12:00 pm | Wired January 2011

That's awesome! Really too bad there's such a built in hurdle to bringing it to this country.

The streaming for NFL games overseas (sponsored by NFL iirc) is pretty awesome from what I understand. One day they'll release it widely here once they either a) find a way to make money and not scare DTV & networks or b) say screw both of them.

 

[massraider]

Just another reason why I hate our government, because it does what it wants.

You hate the government because they are enforcing laws? That sounds pretty ignorant to me. Personally, I believe that the government has it tentacles in too many things (healthcare for one) and we are better off with less government control, however, if you have a problem with the law, then campaign to change the law. Don't complain about the people that enforce the laws. That's just stoopid.

the laws are dumb and not practical with todays biz models/real life. The NFL and every league should be fired for incompetence at following the RIAA and the dying gatekeepers of the information age 1.0

for a counterpoint and another example of how ####### stupid the RIAA is http://www.wired.com/magazine/2010/12/mf_spotify/

Instead of complaining about it work on changing the law. Not at being upset at the people that enforce laws.

By saying that, u actually believe that we have a say in this crooked government, and if you believe this government is not crooked my friend....you have not lived on this planet long. The laws that govern this country were made many many years ago by old white men who had turned their back on thier own country, yet we believe every law they created and that evolved over time, while also paving the way for how laws are still made today, are the right ones to follow. The laws are still made by old people on capitol hill whos only motive for anything, is how much money they take in for their next campaign. Politicians who make laws lie, cheat, and steal...incase you forgot.The internet laws are so far behind, its not just terrible, its pathetic. Now instead of defending the countries laws, that no doubt just wants to take take take from you, defend the people who want the same thing you want and thats a complete and total freedom. Common Sense should govern society, if you don't believe so, police forces are already virtually privatized (if you want to talk about the people enforcing laws), so get ready for no rights in the years to come (Heard of New World Order?). People do you really believe honest men run this country? The lie to our faces, yet we trust what laws they create? Hmmmmm

And as for the internet copyright law....I believe, once its on the internet, its fair game. Society has deemed that its up to you to keep it off the internet.

Be sure to not rock the boat, cuz if you do...well, just then, you might get something done.

This post reminds me:This stinking government is letting public schools go straight to H-E-Double hockey sticks.

 

[az_prof]

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Ten websites that were allegedly engaged in the live streaming of major sporting events have been seized and shut down by authorities, the government said Wednesday.The 10 sites were among the most popular on the Internet for users hoping to access copyrighted sporting events, the U.S. Attorney's Office saidAccording to the government's complaint, which was unsealed Wednesday, each of the seized sites aggregated illegal, pirated broadcasts, and provided links to site visitors.Some of the world's biggest sports leagues were allegedly victimized, including the National Football League, National Basketball Association, National Hockey League, World Wrestling Entertainment and the Ultimate Fighting Championship.Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara said the seizure, carried out just days before the Super Bowl, reaffirms the government's commitment to protecting copyright material."The illegal streaming of professional sporting events over the Internet deals a financial body blow to the leagues and broadcasters who are forced to pass their losses off to fans by raising prices for tickets and pay-per-view events," Bharara said.The sites were disabled Tuesday, and have since been replaced by a posting notifying visitors that "This domain has been seized by ICE - Homeland Security Investigations."The seizure were carried out by the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.ICE is the principal investigative arm of the larger Department of Homeland Security, and runs the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center, which coordinates government efforts to combat intellectual property theft.Atdhe.net, channelsurfing.net, hq-streams.com, hqstreams.net, firstrow.net, ilemi.com, iilemi.com, iilemii.com, rojadirecta.org and rojadirecta.com are the names of the seized sites

I wish the Justice Department would go as aggressively after banks not following rules and other corporate crime. The loss to the networks from 20 or 30 thousand people watching a game online is minimal. It's really small potatoes and harms no one. We have contractor companies in Iraq and Afghanistan fraduently stealing hundreds of millions of dollars of tax payer money; focus on bringing those people to court. We have banks illegally seizing homes from people without going through the proper paper work; fine those banks.