The use of unauthorized Fire TV Sticks is widespread in the UK, providing access to premium content like Sky Sports and movies for a nominal fee. These altered devices are easily accessible online and have become a popular choice for many consumers, leading to a shift away from official providers, causing concerns for companies such as Sky.
Sky’s chief operating officer, Nick Herm, acknowledged the prevalence of jailbroken Fire Sticks offering pirated services, noting that some football fans even wear shirts promoting these devices. Despite the misuse of Fire TV Sticks, Amazon, the manufacturer, is not held responsible as they sell the devices legally with pre-installed official apps like Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video.
The main issue lies in the ability to sideload unofficial applications onto the Fire TV Sticks, enabling the installation of free streaming software. However, Amazon has introduced a new device, the 4K Select Fire TV Stick, which is more affordable and offers high-quality 4K visuals while running on the Vega operating system instead of the Fire OS.
One significant change in the new Fire TV Stick is its strict compatibility with approved apps only available through Amazon’s marketplace. This move aims to prevent the installation of unofficial applications, potentially curbing illegal streaming activities on these devices. Amazon has confirmed that only apps from the Amazon Appstore on Fire TV will be downloadable for enhanced security.
While this measure won’t affect existing Fire TV Sticks with unauthorized apps, it signals a potential shift in the landscape of streaming devices in the future.