For years, the internet has seen its fair share of resilient pirate sites, with The Pirate Bay often standing as the most notable example. However, a newer player, the pirate IPTV service Magis TV, is currently facing significant challenges. In a recent move by Argentine authorities, around 70 domains associated with Magis TV are set to be blocked, marking just the beginning of a larger offensive against the service. The Alliance for Creativity and Entertainment (ACE) has also taken action against a similar number of domains, yet Magis TV continues to operate despite these pressures.

Last December, when the Motion Picture Association (MPA) and other rights holders renewed calls for stricter site-blocking measures in the U.S., a lot of attention fell on Fmovies, once hailed as the largest illegal streaming site globally. Surprisingly, many lawmakers present at the hearing were unfamiliar with Fmovies, and even fewer had heard of Magis TV, which has become a persistent headache for the MPA and ACE.

The Source of Frustration

Magis TV is believed to operate primarily from China, targeting the Latin American market where millions of users access its content through a widely-used, subscription-based Android app. Despite cybersecurity firm ESET linking the app to malware and botnets, its popularity remains unaffected.

On September 13, 2024, an official order in Argentina mandated that ISPs block numerous domains associated with Magis TV due to violations of intellectual property laws. ENACOM, the country’s telecommunications authority, is in charge of enforcing these blocks. The order, which spans four pages, mostly lists these domains, revealing a chaotic structure that suggests the operators lack specific directives from the IPTV service owners.

Enforcement Challenges

Among the blocked domains, some appear to target potential resellers, hinting at closer ties to Magis TV, while others may simply be independent operators reselling subscriptions. This complexity highlights the enforcement challenges faced by authorities. Although 69 domains are now required to be blocked, the effectiveness of these measures in curbing access to the service remains uncertain.

The ACE has been working on addressing the Magis TV issue for at least two years. In mid-2022, they issued a series of DMCA subpoenas aimed at unmasking the operators of numerous illegal streaming sites, including Magis TV. Later, in November, a subpoena was issued to Zenlayer for further information. While the outcomes of these efforts remain unclear, ACE has taken control of dozens of Magis TV-related domains, with many redirecting to their anti-piracy portal.

A Broader Concern

A report from ACE indicates a continent-wide issue with Magis TV, noting that by the end of 2023, around 50 Magis TV websites had been taken down across Latin America. This sweep spanned several countries, including Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, and Venezuela, ultimately reaching the United States. However, ACE estimates that Magis TV and its affiliates operate over 370 websites, illustrating the scale of the problem.

In Ecuador, measures against piracy have been in place since 2019, with increased efforts to block Magis TV this year, including the addition of 183 IP addresses to the blocklist. Ecuador has also initiated dynamic blocking, allowing rights holders to add new domains without the need for court orders. Meanwhile, Bolivia has issued warnings directly to viewers of illegal streams since July 2022.

Despite limited blocking efforts in Peru and other countries, the ease of domain replacement means that those behind these services can remain one step ahead. ACE is maintaining its pressure through new DMCA subpoenas, indicating a commitment to tackling this issue at the source, but if Magis TV’s operations are indeed rooted in China, significant hurdles remain.

The domains listed for blocking in the Argentinian order read as follows:

magistv-la.com, magistv.net, tvmagis.pro, magistv-app.net, magistv.video, magistvplus.com, magistv.app, tvmagis.com, magistvonline.com, magis123.com, magistv.film, magistvoficial.net, magistviptv.com, magistv.live, magistvlatin.com, magistvlatino.es, fullmagistv.com, magistvv.com – redirects to > tvsnipers.com, magistv-ecuador.com, magistv.agency, soportemagistv.com, panelmagistv.com, magistvstream.net, magistvmas.com, magistv-venezuela.com, comprarmagistv.app, magistv.ai, descarga-magistv.com, magispro.com, magistvgo.com, magislatamtv.net, magistvecuador.app, magistvinternational.com, magiscr.org, magistv.mx, magistvmexico.net, oficialmagistv.com, magistv.so – redirects to > magistv.film, magistvapk.app – redirects to> magis-tv.vip, comprarmagistv.com, magistvmex.com, magisapp.app, magistvperu.org, magistvusa.net, magistvoficial.com, magistv-app.net, renovarmagistv.net, panelmagistv.net, magistvgratis.com, magistvpty.com, getmagistv.com, magistve.com, magistvoficial.org, magistvpc.com, magistv.la, magistv.club, tvmagis.pro, magistv.stream, magis.com.ec, magistvtv.com, planesmagistv.com, magistvpremium.com, magistv-latino.net, magistvhn.com, magistvplus.com.co, magisapk.com, magis-cr.com, magistvoficialchile.com, magistvapp.app

To our knowledge, ACE has shut down at minimum the following domains:

magistvgroup.com, magistv.global, magistv.org.pe, magistvnicaragua.com, magistvperu.com, magistvusa.com, magistvapk.com, magistvecuador.com, magistvlatino.app, magistvdemo.com, magistvargentina.com, magistvrepublicadominicana.com, magistvchile.com, magistvpanama.com, magistvfacil.com, magistvbrasil.com, magisglobal.net, magistvcostarica.com, magistvpuertorico.com, magistvmexico.com, magistvuruguay.com, magistvglobal.com, magistvoficial.vip, magistvparaguay.com, magistvbolivia.com, magistvcolombia.com, bolivia.magistvgroup.com, cuba.magistvgroup.com, colombia.magistvgroup.com, argentina.magistvgroup.com, magistvfull.com, magistv.biz, magistv.services, magistv.solutions, magistv.fyi, magistv.us, magistvoficial.online, magistv.group, magistv.social, magistvoficial.digital, magist.vg, magistvvenezuela.com, magistv.es, magistvglobal.co, magistv.place, magistvrepublishedadomenica.com, magistv.store, magistv.asia, magistvoficial.services, magistv.life, magistvoficial.info