Overview
- Michael Barrow was sentenced to three years and two months in prison at Swansea Crown Court after pleading guilty to three Fraud Act offences related to his MB Streams service, which broadcast Premier League matches.
- Prosecutors said Barrow grew the service to more than 2,000 subscribers and took in over £200,000 by selling pre-loaded Firesticks and subscription access.
- The court heard he ignored earlier warnings and used measures to evade detection, including asking customers to disguise payments as retro shirt purchases and to communicate by encrypted apps.
- The prosecution was led by the Premier League with support from FACT and the TARIAN regional organised crime unit, which said the case shows suppliers of modified devices and illegal IPTV services can face criminal charges.
- Rights holders say the ruling protects money that funds the football pyramid, highlights consumer risks such as fraud and malware, and follows a wider trend of criminal enforcement against large-scale streaming operations.