Millions of households in the UK are using modified Fire TV Sticks to access premium entertainment content at a fraction of the cost. These altered devices, widely available online, provide unrestricted entry to services like Sky Sports and blockbuster movies for a nominal annual fee, with some even offering complimentary shows and boxsets.
The growing trend of consumers shifting away from official providers has raised concerns for companies like Sky regarding these adapted Fire TV Sticks. Sky’s chief operating officer, Nick Herm, highlighted the prevalence of jailbroken Fire Sticks and the availability of pirated services, noting how some football enthusiasts proudly display shirts bearing the Fire Stick logo.
While Amazon legally sells its Fire TV Sticks with only authorized apps like Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video pre-installed, the issue lies in the capability to side-load unofficial applications that facilitate free streaming services.
In response to these challenges, Amazon has introduced a new product, the 4K Select Fire TV Stick. This updated device, priced more affordably and boasting enhanced 4K visuals, operates on the Vega operating system instead of Amazon’s Fire OS. Notably, the new software only allows approved applications from Amazon’s marketplace, effectively barring unofficial software installations, potentially curbing illegal streaming activities.
Amazon has emphasized the heightened security measures of the new device, restricting app downloads solely to the Amazon Appstore on Fire TV. While existing Fire TV Sticks remain unaffected by these changes, the introduction of the 4K Select Fire TV Stick signals a shift towards preventing the use of unauthorized apps in the future.