In early June, the MultiChoice Group announced a “meticulously planned raid” that took the illegal Waka TV out of service. Waka TV had offered more than 200 TV channels, including many that were available only through DStv, a MultiChoice service. Consumers paid a monthly or annual fee directly to Waka TV or to resellers. Vouchers were also sold via Alibaba, which are no longer available.
The investigation leading to the raid was supported by Irdeto, which is a subsidiary of the MultiChoice Group. MultiChoice is Africa’s largest media company. The raid took place on May 31, leading to the arrest of an involved individual and the seizure of equipment. The service has been dismantled.
The un-named individual appeared in court on June 3, and was charged with fraud and violations of sections of South Africa’s Cybercrime Act. Additional charges are under consideration.
It’s turning out to be the tip of the iceberg, which is being described as “one of the most extensive pirate operations in Africa.” On June 6, a second individual was apprehended for (allegedly) selling Android-based illicit streaming devices. Devices seized in the raid are under analysis by the South African Plice Service Cybercrime unit for further clues to help determine the extent of Waka TV’s network, according to an article posted to MyBroadband, a technology news site based in South Africa.
“MultiChoice is working actively with the police as investigations continue into the thousands of individuals connected to the Waka TV pirate network,” according to a statement by MultiChoice Group that was posted on LinkedIn. “Resellers supporting the pirate operation are also under investigation. This collaborative effort aims to dismantle the entire network and bring all perpetrators to justice.”
Further reading
MultiChoice nails streaming piracy operation Waka TV. Announcement. June 6, 2024. MultiChoice Group via LinkedIn
DStv coming for streaming pirates. Article. June 20, 2024. by Hanno Labuschagne. MyBroaband
Why it matters
“Digital piracy, far from being a fringe activity, has become a widespread practice that transcends demographics and geographies, challenging the norms of intellectual property rights,” said Frikkie Jonker, broadcast cybersecurity and anti-piracy director for Irdeto in an article published by MyBroadband.
“Acts of piracy, ranging from illegal streaming to black-market digital piracy, are forms of copyright infringement that undermine the efforts of content providers and the software industry,” said Mr Jonker.
[ Note: Irdeto is a supporter of Piracy Monitor, but had no influence on this article. ]
