KUALA LUMPUR – Illegal streaming is so rampant in the sports industry that it has now resulted in legitimate businesses from various sectors to suffer economically.
With this happening, authorities have laid down strict laws over illegal streaming, but it is still an issue that is difficult to curb as many illegal streamers are understood to have links with powerful people in the industry.
For example, a local badminton group on Facebook called 叻哥羽毛球粉丝俱乐部 LekGor Official Group – mind you that they might have changed the account name after the time of writing.
It is a private group that has been garnering 93,300 (as of reporting time) followers and allegedly sharing live feeds of badminton matches for free – the latest was the Malaysia Open held at Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil from June 28 to July 3.
Checks by The Vibes Sports team found that the group was created on October 29 last year but has since changed its name six times.
The administrator has been posting live feeds of badminton tournaments in this private group that are believed to be taken illegally.
A source within the badminton fraternity told The Vibes that the page administrator “Lek Gor” has been informed that they are not allowed to live stream badminton matches, but “Lek Gor” denied ever committing the act.
“When confronted, ‘Lek Gor’ of course, denied everything.
But the organiser could not file any charges on the alleged illegal streaming because they could not find any proof that ‘Lek Gor’ did it,” said the source.
Recently, Chinese media Sin Chew Daily reported that the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) had revoked “Lek Gor’s” work permit for the Super 750 Malaysia Open on June 30.
It was also uncertain whether “Lek Gor” have been accredited with a media or sponsor pass, but many badminton fans exposed them for illegally broadcasting badminton matches following their frustration towards the Facebook group for pre-blocking 500 seats at Axiata Arena – sections 306 and 307 – that were supposed to be for free seating.
Other fans who had bought tickets online for the seats blew up on social media after they found out that “Lek Gor” had pre-arranged for the reservation through another Facebook group that they administered called 叻哥频道 Channel 666, which has about 157,000 followers.
In putting out the fire, BAM promptly responded on Twitter to assure the public that they – and tournament organiser KH Worldwide – will not allow similar incidents to repeat in the future.
BAM memandang serius isu ini. Pihak pengelola kejohanan, KH Worldwide juga telah memberi jaminan kejadian ini tidak akan berlaku lagi.#PETRONASMalaysiaOpen2022
— BAM (@BA_Malaysia) June 30, 2022
The “success” of “Lek Gor” and Channel 666 has spawned many copycats, who are also distributing pirated live broadcasts of badminton tournaments on their Facebook badminton groups to gain followers.
Who is ‘Lek Gor’?
Nobody seems to know but during the recently concluded Malaysia Open, he was seen with an official partner tag and had easy access to players, where even the media were restricted.
There was a video of “Lek Gor” “interviewing” world number 1 Viktor Axelsen during the tournament.
Is his connection with bigwigs a getaway pass for all his illegal streaming?
Won’t the authorities put to use the newly gazetted Copyright (Amendment) Act 2022?
Under the amendment, the sale of illicit streaming devices and the distribution of pirated content through digital platforms such as apps, websites, messaging apps and social media is a criminal offence.
Those found guilty can be fined up to RM200,000, imprisoned for up to 20 years, or both. – The Vibes, July 19, 2022
