The Premier League reiterated its commitment to tackling piracy and working closely with official broadcast partner Astro to educate consumers on the dangers of watching illegal streams with the launch of the second phase of its anti-piracy campaign in Malaysia on Monday.
The Boot Out Piracy campaign continued to highlight the dangers of illegal streams, from data theft to malicious malware, and emphasise the poor viewing experience through broken links and delays.
The two organisations had also been working together to take significant actions against operators illegally supplying the streams as well as blocking involved websites.
The Premier League, operating from its Singapore-based office, had worked with the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (MDTCA) in Malaysia and Astro to successfully block access to 38 websites offering illegal access to Premier League content.
Across the Southeast Asia region, the Premier League also targeted those responsible for operating illegal streams and brought them to justice through the courts.
Premier League Director of Legal Services Kevin Plumb said: "This campaign is an important part of our 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.
"Illegal streaming also means missing out on watching high-definition games in real-time with expert commentary and insights from players and managers. We want fans to enjoy the best Premier League viewing experience possible via official broadcast channels, not via broken and delayed illegal sources which also bring with them a great risk of malicious malware and ransomware."
Lee Choong Khay, Head of Sports at Astro, added: "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 are also 500 hours of supporting programmes like Fanzone, 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 new challenges faced by broadcasters around the world.
