In the late eighties, a satellite dish and a Sky box was all you needed. At the time you need a Sky card, which many people obtained using their UK address. There was also a market in cards designed to imitate a Sky card, but Sky blocked these with great regularity.

Sky also broadcast BBC and ITV, but that stopped in 2002. It would seem that Sky wanted to make their box and services as attractive as possible to UK consumers, so they added the main UK channels BBC, ITV etc. There seems doubt that the BBC and possibly the other channels ever approved of this.

Big changes in service availability

There are many reports in newspaper archives of court actions against Sky by the BBC and eventually Sky removed BBC and ITV etc from their channels. The mainstream channels launched their own box and service, Freeview. Nobody much in the UK was bothered, but in Southern Europe, where thousands were watching BBC and ITV via their Sky box, this was a disaster.

Help was found when it was realised that the BBC and ITV etc had their own free to air satellite service. It had been available for several years, but it was mostly unknown. Thousands linked to it, high quality signal, real time only, but very popular. This came to an end in 2024 when the signal was shut down. The loss of all main UK TV channels, including BBC One and BBC Two was caused after transmission provider Arqiva ended broadcasts of a satellite back-up signal, known as BBC Satback, via the Intelsat 901 satellite at 27.5°W.

IPTV comes to the rescue

Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) is a modern technology that delivers television content over the internet instead of traditional methods such as cable or satellite. IPTV provides users with the ability to stream live television channels and on-demand content on various devices, including smart TVs, computers, and mobile devices. This flexibility and convenience have contributed to the rising popularity of IPTV services globally.

There are several providers who have been offering IPTV in Portugal for many years. This service has increased in popularity as internet speeds have increased dramatically. Those who are based locally usually offer a receiver, at a cost, which connects one TV to the internet and will offer a range of programs, depending on the fee you pay, nearly all with a 14 day catch up. There are minor problems with ‘buffering’, the dreaded circle in the middle of the screen while service is paused. Suppliers normally blame your internet provider, or perhaps your modem, neither are normally not true. There is a high demand and the fact that the service providers face periodic ‘challenges.

Despite its growing popularity, IPTV services face several challenges and controversies. One significant issue is the illegal distribution of copyrighted content by unauthorized IPTV providers. These providers often offer access to premium channels and content at a fraction of the cost, which undermines legitimate broadcasters and content creators.

Actions Taken by BBC and ITV

BBC and ITV, two of the United Kingdom's largest and most influential broadcasters, have taken significant steps to combat illegal IPTV services. These actions are aimed at protecting their content and ensuring that viewers only access their programming through legitimate channels.

Blocking Access to unauthorized IPTV Services

One of the primary actions taken by BBC and ITV is the blocking of access to unauthorized IPTV services. This is achieved through various means, including:

Legal Action: BBC and ITV have pursued legal action against unauthorized IPTV providers, resulting in court orders to shut down their operations. These legal measures serve as a deterrent to other potential offenders and emphasize the broadcasters' commitment to protecting their content.

Collaboration with ISPs: BBC and ITV have collaborated with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to block access to known illegal IPTV services. ISPs can implement measures such as DNS blocking and IP blocking to prevent users from accessing these services. This collaboration is crucial in ensuring that illegal content is not easily accessible to viewers.

Both broadcasters have invested in advanced monitoring systems to detect and report unauthorized distribution of their content. These systems help identify illegal IPTV providers and gather evidence for legal action.

Despite this, the operators are very experienced in changing their IP address to keep ahead of the actions by BBC and ITV. Many in the industry say that the BBC are less active in the blocking method, perhaps they are aware that the suppliers are keeping ahead, and no doubt the cost of endlessly pursuing them is greater than the success (or lack of it).

Credits: Unsplash;

Sky sports is the exception

The media company that is pursuing IPTV services is Sky, their sports coverage is expensive to provide and a major source of revenue. The Guardian reported that Sky’s full-year losses double to £224m as revenue flatlines. There is no doubt that they will continue to pursue IPTV suppliers that pirate their premium sports coverage.

Having said that, it’s now perfectly possible to obtain a Sky box and legitimate Sky cards with Sports in Europe. That way there is no risk of being cut off.

BBC iPlayer and ITVX, the ultimate choice

If you want full access to all BBC and ITV programmes from their extensive library (ITV now owns Britbox) going back over many years, as well as Chanels 4 and 5, it is now possible. The combination of such units as an Amazon Fire Stick plus an IPTV router and service can give you access to everything.

The issue is, and always will be, finding a reliable supplier. Don’t trust services offered on social media, ask friends what service they have and what quality they are receiving. Personal recommendations are the best way to find good suppliers.

Author

Resident in Portugal for 50 years, publishing and writing about Portugal since 1977. Privileged to have seen, firsthand, Portugal progress from a dictatorship (1974) into a stable democracy. 

Paul Luckman