Spain’s Ministry of the Interior reports the arrest of eight individuals following the dismantling of a €5.3 million pirate IPTV network serving local expatriates. While authorities have not disclosed the service’s name, the name TVMucho is being mentioned frequently. The service owner, a Dutch citizen, has openly claimed the legality of his operations. Despite the crackdown, part of the service is still streaming.
Investigation and Arrests
A press release from Spain’s Ministry of the Interior details the operation. Following a complaint by the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) in November 2022, an investigation was launched to identify those behind two websites marketing the illicit service. The investigation, involving complex computer and banking analysis, revealed that the websites were managed by several companies led by a Dutch national.
Operation Details
The investigation revealed that the provider may have employed a modified version of NXT-DASH software for their streaming services. This software, NXT-DASH, had inherited vulnerabilities from its predecessor, Xtreme Code, which were left unresolved in its source code. These vulnerabilities provided law enforcement with a critical entry point, enabling them to collect substantial evidence. This evidence is now being prepared for use in forthcoming legal proceedings, underscoring the significant risks and potential legal ramifications of utilizing unauthorized or compromised software.
The network, described as an “international criminal organization,” used advanced technology to capture, decrypt, and distribute satellite signals from various countries. The content included over 130 international television channels and thousands of movies and TV series, available to users worldwide.
The Ministry reports that the service had over 14,000 subscribers who paid between 10 and 19 euros per month, causing significant financial damage to the rights holders of the content.
Raids and Seizures
Eight individuals, identified as key members of the network, were arrested during raids in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Madrid, Oviedo, and Málaga. Two homes were searched, resulting in the seizure of a vehicle and two computers, and the freezing of bank accounts containing 80,000 euros.
“Likewise, the servers of the online platforms investigated were seized and blocked. Sixteen web pages controlled by this criminal organization were also blocked, so that when their users currently try to access them, their access is prevented. It redirects them to a National Police website where a message is displayed informing them that this page has been intercepted,” the Ministry concludes.
The Service in Question: TVMucho, Rebranded as Teeveeing
Footage supplied by the Ministry of the Interior confirms that the targeted service was TVMucho, which recently rebranded as Teeveeing. TVMucho, launched around 2015 and incorporated in London as TVMucho Ltd in early 2016, operated for 18 months before shutting down. It later began trading under TVMucho Sociedad Limitada in Spain, with an address in Las Palmas.
“This man allegedly led a business and criminal network, made up of citizens living mainly in Gran Canaria, which appeared to be a legitimate business structure with which he managed to earn more than 5,300,000 euros,” the statement reads.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZ3LPYRFUpE&t=1s
TVMucho was designed to provide expatriates with access to free-to-air channels from their home countries, streaming these channels over the internet for viewing in Spain. Despite its seemingly legitimate public image, the recent events suggest otherwise.
