Streaming ‘Whac-a-Mole’ Persists Even After Historic Shutdowns

Even after historic shutdowns of piracy networks, authorities still find themselves in an ongoing game of ‘Whac-a-Mole’ with pirate streaming sites.

Major players like FMovies, 123Movies, and Soap2Day, which attracted millions of monthly visitors, were expected to disappear.

However, the recent actions by the Motion Picture Association (MPA) to block domains in the UK indicate that the problem is far from solved.

Even with the shutdown of key sites, piracy networks continue to flourish, with new domains quickly replacing the old ones.

The Persistence of Streaming Piracy

In theory, the shutdown of sites like FMovies should have been the final blow to these piracy networks. However, as evidenced by the MPA’s continued efforts, the reality is much different.

Hundreds of domains with similar branding have emerged, scooping up millions of visitors. Who operates these new sites and where they are based remains unknown, making it difficult for authorities to tackle the issue.

Six years ago, the MPA warned that Vietnam, with its growing broadband infrastructure and weak piracy laws, would become a major problem for content owners.

They were right, as sites like FMovies and Aniwatch have managed to attract hundreds of millions of visitors monthly.

The challenge is compounded by the complex political and legal environment in Vietnam, where traditional anti-piracy measures often hold little weight.

A Temporary Victory for the MPA/ACE

In July, technical issues at FMovies led to its sudden disappearance, followed by the shutdown of several related sites such as Bflix, Soap2Day, and Sflix.

This was a significant win for the MPA and its partner, the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE). The official confirmation of their involvement in the shutdown came in late August.

While the shutdown was a major success, it wasn’t the first time the MPA had been in this position. In 2018, the 123Movies site was shut down, only to return stronger than ever under different branding.

A similar situation occurred with anime streaming giant Aniwatch. Originally shut down by ACE when it was known as Zoro, the site reappeared under the new name Aniwatch and continued to attract record-breaking traffic.

The Challenge of Rebranding and Domain Switching

Whether FMovies and its related brands will follow a similar path is still uncertain, but it’s clear that the demand for these sites remains high.

Hundreds of millions of visits are up for grabs, and several domains with familiar branding have quickly amassed millions of visitors.

This has made it incredibly difficult for anti-piracy organizations like the MPA to keep track of the constant domain switches and rebranding efforts.

The MPA has dedicated resources to this challenge, but the sheer scale of the problem is overwhelming. After FMovies and other sites switched domains in late May, the MPA moved to block them in the UK.

Around 100 domains were blocked in May, with an additional 100 blocked in July. After a brief pause in August, another 33 domains were blocked in September, followed by 84 more in October.

Branding Continues to Drive Traffic

The ongoing battle against piracy shows how important branding is in the streaming world, even among illegal services.

FMovies was the most popular piracy site ever, yet 123Movies/movies123 remains the most sought-after branding in the movie and TV streaming sector.

Interestingly, despite its previous popularity, Bflix appears to be losing ground, with fewer domains becoming popular enough to pose a blocking threat.

However, the numbers paint a different picture behind the scenes. While Bflix may not seem like a significant player, over 300 domains are currently registered under its name, with most still active. FMovies has over 1,400 domains registered, and 123Movies/movies123-related variants total around 3,500.

Final Thoughts

Despite the recent shutdowns of some of the largest streaming piracy networks, the battle is far from over. New domains continue to pop up, rebranding efforts keep sites alive, and millions of users still seek out these illegal services.

The MPA and its partners will need to keep innovating their strategies to stay ahead in this ongoing game of whack-a-mole.

For more information on this story, refer to the report from TorrentFreak.

We want to know your thoughts on this story. What do you think about this never ending game of streaming whac-a-mole? Let us know in the comment section below!

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