Recently, concerns have been rising among Internet Service Providers (ISPs) regarding the prevalence of popular IPTV services. Some ISPs are expressing intentions to block these platforms once legal restrictions permit.
ISPs like Proximus and Orange Belgium are eagerly anticipating the enforcement of new regulations that would empower them to take measures against unverified IPTV services. Although there are existing legal barriers hindering them from obstructing these services, the ISPs are confident that upcoming laws will offer a more effective solution to address this issue directly.
The motivation behind ISPs’ actions stems from the realization that IPTV Services pose a significant threat to the traditional economic model of media and content distribution. While these ISPs argue that blocking IPTV providers will enhance the security and reliability of streaming services for their customers, some believe that the primary objective of this blockade is to safeguard the interests of content creators and increase subscription revenues.
We would like to hear your thoughts on Internet Service Providers planning to block IPTV services. Share your opinions in the comments below!
Concerns surrounding IPTV services and ISPs trace back to the early 2000s when the entertainment industry grappled with online piracy issues. The rapid evolution of technology and the internet transformed content consumption methods, presenting challenges in copyright protection and illicit streaming activities.
The absence of legitimate avenues for accessing online content fueled the demand for IPTV services, enabling users to stream movies, TV shows, and other content without costly subscription packages.
In 2004, the Belgian music rights group SABAM attempted to compel ISPs to comply by requesting the filtering and blocking of piracy-related traffic. This action set off a lengthy legal battle lasting seven years between SABAM and Scarlet, an ISP in Belgium.
Ultimately, this legal confrontation culminated in a significant victory for Scarlet in 2011, establishing a precedent in the perpetual conflict between content rightsholders and ISPs. However, attitudes towards filtering and blocking have since evolved, prompting ISPs like Proximus and Orange Belgium to acknowledge the necessity of proactively addressing the issue of IPTV services.
These ISPs are now eagerly awaiting the implementation of a legal framework that would authorize them to shut down illegal streaming services and prevent their customers from accessing IPTV content.
Instances of IPTV blocking have been observed in various countries worldwide, including Italy and Canada.
- Canadian ISPs Block IPTV Services & Log Customer IP Addresses
- Italian Senate Passes Law to Block Streaming Sites & IPTV
- LaLiga Teams up with MoviStar to Block IPTV Services
Implications and Future of IPTV Services
Both Proximus and Orange Belgium are eagerly anticipating the enactment of a draft law published in 2022 that would enable the immediate blocking of pirate IPTV providers. They are confident that this legal framework would allow them to swiftly address illegal streams and protect the rights of content creators and distributors.
Proximus CEO Guillaume Boutin highlighted the necessity of safeguarding the media industry’s economic model, stating:
We are simply awaiting the legal framework to cut off the streams. We are not currently authorized to do so. However, we possess the capability… The delay between identifying the link and receiving approval to disconnect it is too long. Subsequently, it proliferates in all directions. More links emerge. This process is currently ineffective. Honestly, this IPTV situation is unacceptable for the rights holders, distributors, and Proximus. It represents a significant loss of value for the sector. This is unacceptable.
Orange Belgium CEO Xavier Pichon seems to share Proximus’ stance on the matter, expressing the following in an interview with La Libre:
We have the technological capabilities to block these streams on a large scale, and the content creators who are losing revenue are specifically requesting this action, but it is currently impeded by administrative and judicial obstacles. However, this will change…
Illegal IPTV poses a severe threat to the economic model of content creators, copyrights, and media. Telecommunication companies invest significant resources in securing content rights and developing the network infrastructure required to transmit content traffic. Conversely, illegal service providers do not contribute to copyright protection and jeopardize the entire economic structure of the media industry.
Both CEOs are awaiting the proposed law outlined in June 2022. You can access the proposed legislation by CLICKING HERE.
This article was originally featured on TorrentFreak.
We invite you to share your views on the implementation of IPTV blocking by Internet Service Providers. Feel free to leave a comment below!
For the latest streaming news, reviews, tips, and more, subscribe to the TROYPOINT Advisor with weekly updates.
This Advisor offers top cord-cutting advice to maximize your streaming device experience and more.
Click the link below to join the over 800,000 Advisor subscribers.