DStv declared war on streaming pirates
Groupe Canal+–owned MultiChoice has said that combating piracy remains a key priority and that its approach will evolve as streaming piracy evolves.
The DStv owner has been cracking down on illegal IPTV services in recent years through its cybersecurity and software security company, Irdeto, in partnership with law enforcement agencies.
MyBroadband asked Groupe Canal+ if its approach had changed since it took control of MultiChoice in September 2025 and concluded its acquisition of the company in December 2025.
“The transaction does not change our approach. Combating piracy remains a strategic priority, and our efforts continue to evolve in line with the changing threat landscape,” Canal+ said.
Internet Protocol Television, IPTV, or TV over broadband, delivers live television programming services via the Internet.
While there are many examples of legitimate IPTV platforms, such as DStv Stream, the technology is also used to unlawfully distribute live TV programming, which constitutes content piracy.
MultiChoice has been taking pirate streamers to task for several years, but its efforts intensified in 2024, when it, along with Irdeto, led to the arrest of at least 10 streaming pirates.
The efforts intensified in 2025, when Irdeto’s Anti-Piracy Department and the Western Cape Provincial Commercial Crime Investigation Unit conducted three raids against pirates in the province.
These operations took place in Maitland, Wellington, and Worcester, resulting in the arrest of several individuals.
“The latest actions reaffirm the unwavering commitment of MultiChoice, Irdeto, and law enforcement agencies to dismantling piracy networks and preventing unauthorised access to DStv content,” it said.
“Individuals apprehended during these operations face serious charges, including money laundering, copyright infringement, and cybercrime offences.”
In early 2026, MultiChoice and Irdeto conducted a series of raids in Cape Town that led to arrests, seizures, and multiple court convictions related to illegal streaming operations.
“A suspect linked to the sale of illegal Internet streaming services was arrested,” MultiChoice said about the first operation. “Two cellphones were seized and will undergo download and forensic examination.”
A second raid on 5 March 2026 led to the arrest of another suspect and the confiscation of a smartphone.
Investigators accessed the suspect’s streaming management panel, securing the system credentials for further analysis.
MultiChoice said the platform hosted 819 user accounts, of which 715 were active at the time. It added that it disabled all accounts and changed login credentials to prevent further illegal activity.
The suspects arrested through the operations were formally charged under the Cybercrimes Act for the unauthorised access to and interception of data.
Hundreds of pirate stream viewers cut off in South Africa
MultiChoice subsequently confirmed to MyBroadband that the 819 accounts it disabled were those of pirate stream viewers.
This meant that 819 end-user accounts were no longer able to use the illegal streaming service. Of these, 715 were likely still paying for it.
End-users of pirate streaming services don’t risk just violating copyright laws. They could be supporting criminal networks carrying out violent crimes elsewhere around the globe.
Viewers hand their personal information, bank card details, and home Internet security to criminals, which could eventually lead to financial or personal harm.
These criminal networks likely retain personal and payment information even after being shut down, which could put paying users at risk.
While MultiChoice’s anti-piracy operations have resulted in several service shutdowns and arrests, pirate streaming services use a simple trick to avoid permanent closure.
One such example was MultiChoice’s shutdown of My Family Cinema, a streaming service that enabled users to illegally share and watch copyrighted movies and series online.
Following the announcement that the streaming service had been shut down, a reader informed MyBroadband that the service had preemptively changed its name to ensure uninterrupted service.
“It was shut down, but they changed the name about two months ago without interruption. They stay ahead of the authorities,” the reader said.
MyBroadband asked MultiChoice about this tactic. It said it was fully aware of the evasive techniques pirate services employ.
“Our enforcement strategy is built around this reality,” MultiChoice said, adding that it tracks the underlying infrastructure and behaviour of pirate streaming services.
It said it could link rebranded platforms to the same operators. Through its partnerships with law enforcement, hosting providers, and app stores, it then takes action against the people behind them.
“While these operators may appear to stay a step ahead through rapid name changes or mirrored platforms, the technical patterns they rely on remain detectable,” MultiChoice said.
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