The Premier League has launched the second phase of its anti-piracy campaign in Malaysia.
The ‘Boot Out Piracy’ campaign will continue to highlight the dangers that illegal streams pose to fans, from date theft to malicious malware, as well as emphasising the poor viewing experience through broken links and delays.
The campaign, which launched on December 16th, will feature images of fan favourites such as Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford, Leicester City’s Jamie Vardy, Tottenham Hotspur’s Son Heung-min, and Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, as the Premier League urges consumers to “Go for the Best” and “Bring on the Best Quality” when watching games.
The anti-piracy message is set to be displayed across digital platforms in Malaysia and Hong Kong.
The Premier League, operating from its Singapore-based office has worked with the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (MDTCA) in Malaysia and Astro to successfully block access to 38 of the most popular websites offering illegal access to Premier League content.
Following these blocking actions, analysis conducted using SimilarWeb estimated a 66% decrease in visitor traffic to Malaysia’s top 50 pirate websites for Premier League content between the start of the last season and October 2020.
Photo via SkySports
Across the Southeast Asia region, the Premier League has also been targeting those responsible for operating illegal streams and bringing them to justice through the courts.
In addition, to successfully blocking multitudes of illegal sites and apps across the region, this also includes criminal actions against the suppliers of illicit streaming devices, which not only provide poor quality content but also create opportunities for cybercriminals to target Premier League fans.
Premier League Director of Legal Services, Kevin Plumb said that this campaign is an important part of their education to fans: “Working with Astro, we will continue to fight piracy with legal action and blocking illegal streams. However, we want to ensure supporters really understand that piracy is not only illegal but also brings with it many risks”
Meanwhile, Head of Sports at Astro, CK Lee said: “With the 2020/21 season now in full swing and spectators returning to the stadiums, fans in Malaysia can be part of the excitement on Astro, where they get the most comprehensive coverage and high-quality football viewing experience.”
“Watch all remaining matches of the season live in HD and streaming on Astro GO; with selected matches in 4K UHD with our Ultra Box and Astro Broadband. There’s also 500 hours of supporting programmes like Fanzon, The Kelly & Wrighty Show, Premier League Today, classic matches, pre-match shows, post-match discussions and match highlights on TV and our digital platforms.”
With tens of millions of football fans in Malaysia, the Premier League is a member of Asia’s Coalition Against Piracy and continues to collaborate with industry organisations to tackle the new challenges faced by broadcasters in the wider region.
Remember that not only that it is illegal to stream matches without paying for them, but it’s also unreliable and risky!
By: Aishah Akashah Ahadiat
