Between 2014 and 2019, a senior-aged couple allegedly sold hundreds of modified set-top boxes that enabled their users to receive Sky’s full pay TV lineup without license or compensation to Sky.
The case is being heard by the Landshut Regional Court. The defendants were said to have sold 1,755 of the receivers for about €250 apiece, generating revenue of more than €530,000.
According to reporting by Süddeutsche Zeitung, the Bavarian Central Office of Cybercrime of the Bamberg Public Prosecutor’s Office said that the defendents charged customers an additional 50 euros per year for use of a card-sharing server elsewhere in Europe, so Sky’s programming could be decrypted.
Known as “Russian receivers,” the hacked Sky set-top boxes were sold by word of mouth.
Why it matters
Sky estimated that, at a loss of about 80 euros per month per subscriber, it has lost about €4.4 million in subscription revenue and wants to file criminal charges.
Further reading
Couple said to have sold manipulated TV receivers: Sky suffers millions in damages. Article. September 19, 2025. by Alexander Kappen. Süddeutsche Zeitung.
Couple said to have caused Sky 4.4 million euros in damage with “Russian receivers.” Article. September 22, 2025. Welt (Germany)
Senior couple cheats Sky out of 3.5 million euros. Article. September 22, 2025. by Andreas Bachner, Robert Gongoll. Bild (Germany)
