iWorld
ACE & Premier League take action against illegal streaming devices seller in Malaysia
Mumbai: The Malaysian ministry of domestic trade and consumer affairs (MDTCA) has raided an electronics outlet for allegedly selling illicit streaming gadgets that gave customers unauthorised access to entertainment and sporting events, including Premier League games. The Premier League and the Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE), the foremost anti-piracy alliance in the world, collaborated to organise the event.
The Johor Bahru-based retailer is accused of peddling a variety of gadgets, including SVICloud boxes. The devices had unauthorised software installed that gave users access to live sporting events, including Premier League content, as well as film and television programming. The retailer is suspected of running an illegal sales operation across numerous internet channels in addition to selling similar gadgets through their brick and mortar store.
The Premier League and ACE are among the first organisations to take action under Malaysia’s new Copyright (Amendment) Act 2022. The amended Copyright Act strengthens copyright legislation and empowers authorities to take action against those who sell illegal streaming devices and illegal website operators.
Motion Picture Association executive vice president and ACE head & global content protection chief Jan van Voorn said, “We commend the Malaysian government for the recent amendments to the Copyright Act, which criminalises the sale of such illicit streaming devices. These new provisions have become a gold standard within the APAC region. We would like to thank the MDTCA for taking prompt action to shut down this illicit operation.”
“IPTV piracy services like the one closed down today put consumers at risk of malware, undermine investment, reduce tax contributions to governments, and stifle creativity. We will continue to identify and interdict the operators of such online piracy services and work closely with Malaysian law enforcement agencies to protect the livelihoods of Malaysian and international creators and distributors,” Voorn added.
Premier League General Counsel Kevin Plumb said, “We are extremely pleased to be able to put the recently amended Copyright Act into action. The strengthened legislation puts Malaysia at the forefront of copyright protection, making it very clear that anyone involved in providing or facilitating illegal streams is carrying out a crime.
“The Premier League is committed to fighting piracy in Malaysia and will continue to take action against those responsible for providing illegal access to our content. We want to ensure fans watch Premier League content in the best quality and safest way possible-and the majority do so via authorised sources. However, for those who don’t, they must be aware that by using devices such as SVICloud, they face security risks and disrupted viewing experiences.” Plumb said.
“I would like to place on record our thanks to the MDTCA for their cooperation and swift response to support this enforcement action,” he added.
iWorld
Why Peaky Blinders is one of television’s biggest hits that still deserves more attention
Six seasons, multiple awards and the release of Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man bring the Shelby saga back into the spotlight
In the crowded universe of streaming content, only a handful of shows manage to leave a lasting cultural footprint. Peaky Blinders is overwhelmingly considered one of the biggest global hits of the past decade. Yet many viewers still haven’t fully explored the dark, gripping world of the Shelby family.
Originally produced for the UK’s BBC and later finding a massive global audience through Netflix, the series quietly grew from a British period drama into a worldwide streaming phenomenon.
Created by Steven Knight, the show follows the rise of the Shelby crime family in post-First World War Birmingham. What begins as a gritty street-gang story gradually expands into a sweeping narrative about ambition, politics, power and survival.
At the centre of the saga is Thomas Shelby, portrayed with extraordinary depth by Cillian Murphy. The casting of Murphy is widely regarded as perfect for the role. With piercing eyes, restrained dialogue and an almost hypnotic screen presence, he transforms Shelby into one of the most unforgettable characters in modern screen storytelling.
Murphy’s brilliance lies in his restraint. He rarely shouts or performs theatrically. Instead, a quiet stare, a calculated pause or a subtle shift in expression conveys the emotional storms within the character. Beneath the ruthless gang leader is a war veteran carrying trauma, guilt and loneliness. Murphy captures this complexity with remarkable precision, making Thomas Shelby both terrifying and deeply human.
Beyond its central performance, Peaky Blinders stands out for its unfiltered portrayal of reality. The show does not romanticise crime. Instead, it exposes the harsh social conditions of early 20th-century Britain, from poverty and class struggle to political extremism and the psychological scars left by war.
The series also presents powerful female characters who hold their own within the Shelby empire. Polly Gray, played by Helen McCrory, is the strategic backbone of the family and one of the most formidable figures in the story. Women in the series shape decisions, influence power structures and challenge the rigid social norms of the time.
Across six seasons, the narrative grows dramatically in scale. What begins in the smoky streets of Birmingham evolves into a story involving political conspiracies, fascism and international criminal networks.
The series has also earned significant critical acclaim. It won the BAFTA Television Award for Best Drama Series in 2018 and multiple National Television Awards for Best Drama, cementing its reputation as one of Britain’s most celebrated modern shows.
Another defining feature of the series is its iconic music. The show’s opening theme, Red Right Hand by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, became instantly recognisable and widely associated with the Shelby universe. Combined with a powerful soundtrack featuring artists such as Arctic Monkeys and Radiohead, the music helped shape the show’s dark, stylish identity and became hugely popular among fans.
And the Shelby story is not over yet.
In fact, its legacy is unfolding right now. The long-awaited feature-length continuation, Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man, was released on March 6, 2026, bringing the Shelby universe from streaming screens to cinemas and giving fans a new chapter in the saga.
For viewers who have not yet stepped into this world, the timing could not be better.
Six gripping seasons are ready to binge on Netflix. A new film has just arrived in theatres. And at the heart of it all stands one of the most magnetic performances in modern drama by Cillian Murphy.
So if Peaky Blinders has been sitting on your watchlist for years, this weekend is your moment.
So, by order of the Peaky fookin’ Blinders, consider this your cue to finally step into the ruthless world of Thomas Shelby. Pour yourself a drink, clear your schedule and press the play button. Because when the Peaky Blinders give an order, you listen.
