Streameast Shutdown

By Dylan Xie Nov. 12, 2025

It is the World Cup Final—every four years, billions across the world tune in to watch a nation be crowned the world’s best. Even those without streaming subscriptions are able to tune in on the game through free but illegal websites, notably Streameast. However, due to the sting operation in Egypt, the popular piracy site was dismantled; the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE)—a coalition of over 50 major media companies including Amazon, Netflix and Paramount Plus—and Egyptian officials seized credit cards and electronic devices that were allegedly used to broadcast the streams. Two men were arrested at the Giza Governorate, about 20 miles west of Cairo, on suspicion of running the site. 

The recent raid marked the end of a one year hunt by the ACE and the Egyptian police. According to Charles Rivkin, the chairman of ACE, the takedown represents a significant milestone in the fight against digital piracy.  

Illegal streaming services began as an alternative way to watch sports due to the increased price of sports media rights, whose global market value surpassed $60 billion in 2024. The rising costs inflated the prices of pay-per-view services and streaming services, driving many viewers to free, unauthorized options. Over time, what began as a loophole has turned into a full-scale operation with Streameast alone containing 80 domains, networks of devices used to host and distribute streams. 

Streameast provided free premium content ranging from the Premier League, NFL, NBA and MLB, as well as pay-per-view events such as MMA and boxing. Generating over 163 million visits per month, Streameast rose to prominence in the illegal streaming market in 2023 and 2024.  

Over the past few years, some people have exploited the advanced technology of major companies to pirate content. For example, the Amazon Fire TV Stick allowed people to plug it into TVs and watch thousands of programs on platforms such as Netflix for free. Consequently, people began advertising these Fire Sticks on social media. As it turned out, 59% of residents in the U.K. who reported pirating content over the past year said that they used an Amazon Fire Stick. Additionally, security vulnerabilities in Microsoft’s PlayReady and Google’s Widevine have also been linked to illegal streaming. Ultimately, these forms of pirating drained profit away from the legit businesses whose technology was unknowingly being used. 

Illegal streaming platforms are notably popular with the younger generation as they often turn to online platforms for entertainment and search for ways to escape paywalls. 

“Some companies are trying to have you pay $100 for only a couple of shows, so it makes sense that people may want to find free content on illegal streaming websites. Plus, the content on illegal websites stays online forever, unlike legit platforms,” Arman Ciriaco ‘28 said.  

Ryan Part Art

Adults, including high-profile figures, have also been observed accessing these sites. In 2024, Los Angeles Lakers’ billionaire superstar Lebron James was seen at the courtside watching an NBA game on Streameast while in attendance of an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball game. The increased publicity, however, led some Streameast users to worry that the site would be taken down. 

“These sites are a result of corporate greed because corporations have inflated the prices, causing viewers to look for other options,” Kaden Sung ‘28 said. 

While some believe that the sites are a result of price inflation from corporations, others argue that the people running the sites behind the scenes should be under scrutiny. 

“In terms of people distributing the sites, it is a criminal enterprise and should be punished; users are cheating the system by lining their own pockets and taking away viewers from the actual legitimate businesses,” Ramin Khan ‘26 said. 

Although the main domain for Streameast has been shut down, many new illegal platforms have popped up, sharing profit in available in  Streameast’s absence.  

Overall, this ban signifies a huge change in the illegal streaming landscape as Streameast, the largest illegal streaming organization has been shut down by ACE along with the Egyptian officials. This raid marked the latest attempt from ACE in their investigations of similar unauthorized streaming platforms as the debate on digital piracy continues. This action may set the foundation for further international cooperation and the stricter management of online copyright laws, potentially affecting the appearances of similar pirating platforms.

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About the Contributors

Dylan Xie

staff writer

Dylan Xie is a sophomore at Leland High School and a staff writer for The Charger Account. In his spare time, he likes to play soccer, work out, and hang out with friends.

Ryan Park

artist

Ryan Park is a junior at Leland High School who is an artist for The Charger Account. When he is not residing at the gym, he likes to mess with his cats and read manga.