Earlier this month some of the world's biggest broadcasting giants banded together to carry on their fight against illegal downloads.
The media companies, which included Netflix, Disney and Universal Studios, applied for a block against a big illegal streaming website, Mixdrop, to prevent it from illegally streaming their content.
Their application was successful, and the High Court has now ordered the UK’s broadband companies to apply an immediate block to anyone trying to access the site.
Piracy, or illegal downloading, has long been a problem for big streaming and TV broadcasters.
Whilst some people think there’s no harm in watching a free pirated version of a new film or series they can’t yet access legally, pirating causes real financial issues to the UK’s creative industries.
The BBC has now joined the battle against pirated content, and become the newest member of the International Broadcaster Coalition Against Piracy - also known as IBCAP.
"Television piracy causes financial harm to the British creative industry, depriving UK producers and broadcasters of income for future investment," said Diane Hamer, Head of Business & Legal Affairs Content and Brand Protection for BBC Studios.
Apart from denying them money to pay for future content, it also means views aren’t being counted, which can lead to production companies cancelling sequels or additional series if they believe there’s no demand for them.
It’s illegal to watch, download, or stream content for free without the permission from the rights-holder, so if you’ve found a site that seems too good to be true - it probably is.
Instead, finding a great deal on streaming sites is the best way to stay on the right side of the law, and make sure your favourite series gets greenlit for another season.
Here are some of the best deals on streaming and live TV we could find:
Virgin Media
Although you can only buy a Virgin TV package if you also get broadband with it, their deals are actually incredibly competitive.
You can choose from plenty of different options to suit you and your home set up, including access to Sky TV channels, and the ability to pause what you’re watching in one room and pick it up in another.
Their various bundles let you choose from drama and entertainment packages, to full access to Sky Movies or Sky Sports, as well as giving you broadband, a phone line, and in some deals, an O2 sim card too.
BT
With BT TV, you have the power of flexibility.
Their TV packages are available on a 24-month contract, and you have full control over what’s included each month.
That means every month, you can change which channels you have access to, so you can switch to BT Sports package during a crucial month of matches, then swap to their Entertainment bundle the next month when your favourite series returns.
They also have the option of packages like their Big Entertainment package, that lets you access the latest films from NOW, Sky Atlantic, and Netflix.
Sky
With everything from the basics, to movies, entertainment and sport, there’s a Sky TV bundle that will suit you.
They now offer a variety of packages based on whether you want to use their SkyQ system , or their new Sky Glass set up .
Whilst both offer the same choice of channels, SkyQ requires a satellite dish to use it, and comes in SD as standard.
On the other hand, their new Sky Glass system not only comes with HD as standard, but it runs over wifi instead, and comes with their new Sky Glass TV included in the price.
You can tailor packages for both systems, so you can pick and choose the channels that suit you best, whether you’re a sports fanatic or love catching up on the latest film releases.
NOW TV
If you’re just looking for an app to add to your smart TV or device, NOW TV covers a lot of bases.
You can access Sky Movies, Sky Entertainment channels, and sports, and you can pick and choose which ones you want to add to your account each month if you want.
You can also cancel at any time, so you’re not tied into any contracts if you decided you don’t use the channels as much as you thought you would.
Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime Video is another app worth adding to your smart TV if you’re a big watcher of TV series or love films.
You’ve got the option of buying or renting new releases if you can’t wait to watch them, but they have thousands of series and movies included in their monthly fee.
You can also add extra channels to it, including HayU and IMDb TV, so you can customise it to suit what you want.
Disney+
You don't just get access to thousands of Disney movies when you sign up for Disney+.
The streaming service also offers you access to movies and series from the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Pixar, as well as other classic movies across all genres.
You'll also have full access to channels including National Geographic, which is ideal if you love documentaries, and Star, which has hit programmes like The Walking Dead.
You can cancel your subscription at any time, and you can use your Disney+ account on a range of devices including smart TVs, tablets and your mobile.
