To most people, the idea of getting free access to hundreds of channels, including premium movie programming, special sports packages, high quality digital sound and picture, and unlimited pay-per-view options, probably sounds like a dream come true. And the fact that this "dream" is against the law is not stopping satellite TV piracy from increasing at rates that are downright nightmarish for the satellite providers who are being robbed in the process.
The fact is, satellite theft, which is extremely illegal, has grown remarkably in recent years. Now, the number of people stealing satellite TV is almost as high as the number of people stealing cable. There are a number of factors to blame for this. For one thing, everyday people are becoming more and more technology-proficient, which means that not only more information is becoming available-mainly over the Internet-on satellite piracy, but also that more people are able to access and use such information.
In addition to that, as the legal use of satellite is becoming more popular, it follows that the illegal use of it is becoming more popular, as well. More and more people are switching from legitimate cable subscriptions to legitimate satellite subscriptions for the many benefits that satellite TV has to offer. These same benefits also make satellite more popular among pirates.
It is estimated that over a million people are currently accessing satellite TV illegally. And this estimate does not even take into account the many people who have a legal subscription to a basic satellite package but are illegally receiving more than they pay for. Sometimes people tamper with their satellite systems themselves to get free access to premium channels, special packages, and pay-per-view. Other people might "tip" the professional technician who is sent to install their system, bribing them to open up their access for them.
The latter case is just one example of the many ways that satellite pirates are making money off their hacking skills. A lot of the profits being made off piracy come from sales that are made over the Internet. This makes the pirates anonymous and hard to track and prosecute. One of the most profitable satellite features for pirates to steal is pay-per-view programming, especially films and pornography. This makes the satellite providers that provide the most pay-per-view options the biggest targets for satellite pirates. Satellite pirates will obtain and record movies and sell them on the street. There is a huge profit margin on such DVDs, as the only cost to the pirates is the price of recording equipment and blank DVDs.
Other popular features include special packages like the NFL Sunday Ticket, Mega March Madness, MLB Extra Innings, Cricket Ticket, NHL Center Ice, NASCAR HotPass, and NBA League Pass.
As tempting as the idea of receiving free digital programming, premium movie channels, special packages, and pay-per-view services may seem, the bottom line is that it is illegal. When you steal satellite service, you are contributing to rising problem of satellite piracy, a practice that costs satellite providers billions of dollars a year.
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