Sky TV catch ‘rare’ illegal streamer as Birmingham family man unmasked

Birmingham: A family man named Gary McNally has been sentenced for running an illegal streaming service. He was caught by Sky TV in a rare case. For four years, he operated this large-scale operation right from his home.

At 56, McNally focused on streaming Premier League football and pay-per-view boxing. At its peak, he had around 2,000 illegal users. Not only did he distribute these streams, but he also created much of the content himself.

He received a sentence of two years and nine months at Birmingham Crown Court after admitting to charges related to fraud. His illegal activities spanned from November 2017 to September 2021, when he was finally arrested.

The judge noted that while selling illegal streaming services is common, capturing and distributing content is quite rare. McNally’s case was unique because he was involved in both aspects of the operation.

Sky and other broadcasters see those who harvest content as the top tier of piracy. The judge explained that without this harvesting, the illegal streaming wouldn’t be profitable.

Despite the serious nature of his crime, the prosecutor acknowledged that McNally might not have been one of the top earners in the illegal streaming world. His setup was complex, using high-quality broadband that cost him £420 a month.

He was focused on providing access to Premier League matches at a fraction of the legitimate cost. He even found ways to bypass rules that prevent certain matches from being shown live.

The prosecutor estimated that McNally made around £60,000 from his operation, although he contested this figure, claiming it was closer to £40,000. He had unlawfully distributed over 80,000 hours of television content.

After his arrest, McNally admitted to running the illegal service but claimed he was pressured into it by someone he wouldn’t name. He insisted that most of the profits went to this unnamed third party.

His defense argued that he had stopped his illegal activities after the police came knocking. They highlighted that he is a family man with health issues, who has continued to work and support his family throughout this ordeal.