Cablevision, one of Mexico‘s giant cable TV providers that belong to Televisa, won a court order to ban all sales of Roku media streaming devices in Mexico because Roku devices are frequently misused by hackers to stream pirated content from Televisa’s channels among other entertainment channels, like: ESPN and HBO. Despite Roku’s vigorous attempts to suspend the court order, they have lost the case. As a result, Roku boxes were pulled out of the shelves in major store chains all over Mexico as salespeople were ordered to remove the devices over “legal issues“.
“Cablevision cannot allow the content that it licenses from domestic and foreign companies to be illegally used,” Cablevision spokesperson Maria Eugenia Zurita said to Reuters in an email. “We would also like Roku Inc to better supervise the use of its software so that it’s not used inappropriately.”
When connected to TV sets, Roku devices allow the viewer to get access to over 2,000 online entertainment streaming channels, such as: Netflix, Hulu, HBO, Amazon, Starz, BBC iPlayer, NOW TV, Demand 5, Sky Sports, Youtube, ITV Player and many more. Roku users can search for their favourite content via a remote player after connecting the device to their TV set through an HDMI cable or through their WiFi network. Users can watch free, rented or chargeable content, such as Netflix subscriptions, anytime, anywhere. However, there are some people, mainly hackers, out there who alter Roku devices to illegally stream copyrighted content which results in loss of revenue for the companies they pirate content from, especially HBO and Netflix. In Mexico, hackers contact Roku users via WhatsApp messages to offer them access to paid packages of hundreds of online streaming channels, such as those streamed by Televisa, Netflix, HBO, etc.
Currently, Roku’s policies strictly prohibit the distribution of any pirated or copyrighted content through its devices without distribution rights. Furthermore, the company will continue to combat piracy and fight back until Roku services are restored in Mexico. Disagreeing with the court’s order, Roku’s General Counsel Steve Kay said in an official statement:
“Today’s decision is not the final word in this complex legal matter, and it is not expected to prevent consumers from purchasing Roku products in Mexico at this time.”
