Michael Barrow jailed for three years over illegal Premier League streaming service

Michael Barrow has been sentenced to three years and two months in prison at Swansea Crown Court after pleading guilty to three Fraud Act offences connected to running an illegal Premier League streaming service. His operation, branded MB Streams, used pre-loaded Amazon Firesticks to distribute top-flight matches to more than 2,000 subscribers and generated over £200,000 in revenue.

Barrow took deliberate steps to avoid detection, instructing customers to disguise their bank transfers as purchases of retro football kits. The sentence was handed down despite Barrow having received prior warnings to cease the operation, a factor the court considered in determining its severity.

The prosecution was brought by the Premier League and supported by anti-piracy organisation FACT and the TARIAN Regional Organised Crime Unit’s Economic Crime Team in southern Wales.

Premier League Director of Legal – Enforcement Stefan Sergot said the outcome underlined the consequences awaiting those who supply illegal streaming services. “The decision to ignore clear warnings only compounded the seriousness of the offending, and this is reflected in the sentence handed down today,” he said. Sergot also noted that illegal streaming carries risks beyond intellectual property theft, including exposure to fraud, malware and identity theft for users.

FACT Chairman Kieron Sharp described the operation as “a deliberate and sustained criminal enterprise” and said the case sent a clear message to others running modified-device or IPTV services. “Illegal streaming is not a victimless crime,” Sharp said. “It damages the creative industries, undermines legitimate rights holders and service providers, and exposes users to serious risks, including fraud, malware and criminal exploitation.”

The Premier League stated it would continue working with FACT and law enforcement to identify and prosecute illegal operators at all levels of the streaming supply chain.