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The Athletic FC Podcast

The Underground World of Illegal Streaming

Does the rise of illegal streaming pose an existential threat to football?


To answer that question, Adam Leventhal has spent the last six months looking into the culture, crime and crisis associated with pirating live football matches.In this special episode of The Athletic FC Podcast you'll hear undercover reporting and behind the scenes access to police investigations, including how the world's largest illegal sports streaming platform was taken down.


We get the takes of match-going fans, and ask if 'Premflix' is the future of Premier League broadcasting?


If you're an Athletic subscriber you can have your say here.


And if you're not yet a subscriber, join here and have your say.


Please note that the documentary has content some listeners may find upsetting.


Host: Adam Leventhal

Mixing: Jay Beale

Producer: Abi PatersonFeaturing footage from Amazon, Sky Sports, tallkSPORT, Leaders. 

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