By Dipo Olowookere
The website accused of illegally streaming football matches on the internet, Score808.com.ng, has been taken over by SuperSport, Business Post can confirm.
The online platform is now being redirected to the SuperSport website, checks carried out last weekend and on Thursday morning showed.
SuperSport is the popular sports channel operated by MultiChoice, a famous pay television platform in Africa, which coverage in Nigeria and others.
The company has been intensifying its fight against intellectual theft (IP), with a series of campaigns and advertisements, including on its channels across platforms like DStv and GOtv, which it operates.
Over the weekend, it was reported that the operator of Score808 was arrested in Osun State by the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Nigeria Police Force Intelligence Bureau.
The website, created in November 2022, according to its Whois data, is said to attract millions of visits from across Africa and beyond, precisely 3.1 million visits globally, with over 1.2 million visits originating from Africa alone.
The person behind the platform was captured by the police crack team in Osogbo on August 22, 2024, after an extensive investigation that spanned several months.
“The arrest of this notorious pirate is a testament to what can be achieved when law enforcement agencies and private sectors work hand in hand. We sincerely appreciate the Nigerian Police’s unwavering support, which has led to this positive outcome,” the Director of Broadcasting and Cyber Piracy at Irdeto, Mr Frikkie Jonker, said.
“All forms of piracy continue to pose a significant threat to the creative industry. At Irdeto, we are fully committed to addressing every facet of piracy, whether it occurs online or through other means,” he added.
It was gathered that the suspect remains in police custody, with substantial evidence pointing to involvement in large-scale illegal streaming activities. If convicted, the website operator could face a prison sentence of up to five years.