Millions of households in the UK are turning to modified Fire TV Sticks to access premium entertainment content at a fraction of the cost. These altered devices, widely available online, offer unrestricted content like Sky Sports and blockbuster movies for a nominal annual fee, with some even providing free access to shows and boxsets.
The increasing popularity of these adapted Fire TV Sticks among consumers is a growing concern for companies like Sky. According to Nick Herm, Sky’s chief operating officer, these jailbroken devices allow users to access pirated services easily, leading to a significant shift away from official providers.
Although Amazon bears no responsibility for these activities, the company exclusively sells its Fire TV Sticks with pre-installed legitimate apps such as Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video. The issue lies in the capability to load unofficial applications that facilitate the installation of free streaming software.
To address this issue, Amazon has introduced a new product, the 4K Select Fire TV Stick, which offers superior visuals at a lower price point. This updated device operates on the Vega system, distancing itself from Amazon’s Fire OS. Notably, the new software restricts the installation of only approved apps from Amazon’s marketplace, effectively blocking unofficial applications and potentially curbing illegal streaming activity on these devices.
Amazon has confirmed that for enhanced security, only apps available on the Amazon Appstore for Fire TV can be downloaded, signaling a shift towards eliminating unauthorized usage. While existing Fire TV Sticks with unauthorized apps will remain unaffected, this change may pave the way for stricter controls in the future.