Egyptian authorities shut down major live sports piracy site Streameast, arresting two individuals and seizing 80 websites and domains that logged 1.6 billion visits in the past year.

The live sports piracy site Streameast, popular in Ireland, has been shut down by Egyptian authorities. The site had over 1.6 billion visits in the past year and offered illicit access to various sports events. The takedown is hailed as a victory for digital rights owners and a major blow to sports piracy. The operation was aided by the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment.

Egyptian authorities, in collaboration with the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), have successfully shut down Streameast, the world's largest illegal sports streaming platform. The operation, which took place on August 24, is hailed as a significant victory for digital rights owners and a major blow to sports piracy [1].

Streameast, which operated through over 80 unauthorized domains, logged more than 1.6 billion visits in the past year, providing free access to global sports fixtures, including Europe's top football leagues, the NFL, NBA, and MLB. The platform was particularly popular among viewers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, the Philippines, and Germany [2].

The takedown of Streameast is a result of a year-long investigation by ACE, a coalition of 50 media and entertainment organizations including Amazon, Apple TV+, Netflix, and Paramount. The operation involved the arrest of two operators based in Sheikh Zayed City, Egypt, on Aug. 24. Authorities seized laptops, smartphones, Visa cards containing about 6 million Egyptian pounds, and multiple real estate properties suspected of being purchased with illicit revenues [1].

The shutdown of Streameast is expected to have a global impact, with data from Brand Finance indicating that 43% of respondents in 13 countries considered using unofficial live stream websites rather than paying full price to watch sports [1]. Recent prosecutions in the UK, such as that of Stephen Woodward, who was sentenced to three years in prison for running three illegal streaming websites, further underscore the extent of the problem [1].

While the shutdown of Streameast will have a significant impact on sports piracy, it is crucial to note that the operation may not have a lasting effect. The site's original domain is no longer active, but backup domains and replacement services have already started to emerge. ACE is currently investigating whether these sites are related to the original platform [1].

In conclusion, the takedown of Streameast is a significant step in the fight against sports piracy. However, it is clear that the battle is far from over, and ongoing efforts by organizations like ACE and law enforcement agencies worldwide will be necessary to maintain the integrity of the live sports ecosystem.

References:
[1] https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6591670/2025/09/03/streameast-worlds-largest-illegal-sports-streaming-platform-shut-down-in-sting/
[2] https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2025/09/03/streameast-sports-streaming-piracy-shut-down/85955486007/