Photocall, a website with pirated sports programming that had retransmitted live channels, has agreed to shutter the illicit operation. Following an investigation conducted by ACE and DAZN, the operator of Photocall was identified and traced to Spain.
Photocall received more than 26 million visits in the past year, providing unauthorized access to 1,127 TV channels from 60 countries, including channels broadcasting live sports content.
According to reporting by 2playbook, Photocall did not include DAZN channels, but it did redistribute content from some of DAZN’s partners, including MotoGP, Formula 1, Serie A, NFL, NHL, WTA and official channels of clubs such as Real Madrid TV, Barça TV and Betis TV.
ACE, a program led by the Motion Picture Association (MPA), had approached the operator and reached a settlement, resulting in the immediate closure of the service, among other terms.
Nearly 30% of the site traffic originated from Spain, with over 13% from Mexico, followed by Germany, Italy, and the U.S. at 6% each. Photocall’s sites now redirect to ACE’s ‘View Legally” landing page.
Why it matters
“Content theft harms the entire sports ecosystem,” said Oscar Vilda, CEO of DAZN Iberia. “This illegal service did not offer DAZN channels, but it did redistribute the content of some of our partners – especially MotoGP and Formula 1, as well as Serie A, the NFL (National Football League), the NHL (National Hockey League), and the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), and club channels like Real Madrid TV, Barça TV, and Betis TV. Following the coordinated work of DAZN’s anti-piracy team and ACE, we have safeguarded the value of those rights and ensured that fans can continue to enjoy live sports coverage with the highest quality, at an accessible price, and without facing the risks of malware or fraud.”
“The deterrence works and we will continue to pursue illegal operations that illegally transmit live content, added Larissa Knapp, Executive Vice President and Chief Content Protection Officer of MPA. “Our actions are proportionate and are directed and designed to protect rights holders and audiences, while maintaining the integrity of live sport and access to legitimate services.”
Further reading
DAZN and ACE close a pirate streaming service after a joint operation in Spain. Press release. November 20 2025. DAZN Iberica. Note: ACE issued the same press release on the same day
DAZN and ACE force the closure of Photocall, a pirate service with 26 million views. Article. November 20, 2025. 2Playbook.com
