WeakStreams was a widely-used website offering free sports streams. It gained popularity for its diverse live sports content and easy accessibility on various devices. Unfortunately, it was shut down by U.S. law enforcement during the FIFA World Cup due to copyright infringement.
The seizure of sites like WeakStreams highlights the ongoing efforts against sports piracy. Sites like WeakStreams quickly rise in popularity but also quickly become inaccessible.
What was WeakStreams?
WeakStreams was a website that offered free access to a wide array of sports streams. It gained significant popularity in 2021 – 2022 for its extensive range of live sports streams. WeakStreams hosted hundreds of channels spanning categories like Soccer, College Football, F1, Basketball, Baseball, MMA, Boxing, Hockey, and more.
One of the highlights of WeakStreams was its remarkable compatibility. You could use WeakStreams with your Amazon Firestick, Fire TV, Android device, Windows PC, Mac, phone, tablet, or any internet-connected device. Another appealing aspect of this streaming service was that it allowed anyone to dive straight into the action without having to go through cumbersome registrations or signups.
WeakStreams also provided an electronic program guide (EPG). This feature provided users with a schedule of upcoming live sports streams and events. Unfortunately, due to the recognized availability of pirated sports streams hosted by Weakstreams, the site came to an end.
WeakStream’s Closure
Sites like Weakstreams had millions of monthly visitors who accessed sports content for free. But to make this service “free” to its millions of visitors they provided pirated sports streams, while profiting from ads.
On December 10, 2022, U.S. law enforcement authorities seized the domain names of various popular sports streaming sites including Weakstreams.com amid the FIFA World Cup. The decision to take down this site was due to its unlawful reproduction and distribution of copyrighted material.
The takedown was marked by a seizure banner displaying U.S. law enforcement seals. It caused WeakStreams to immediately become inaccessible. The banner also includes warnings of criminal prosecution for offenders.
At the time of WeakStream’s domain seizure, other similar sites were also shut down and moved to new domain names to remain accessible. But no new Weakstream domain is still found to be active and operational.
Legal Alternatives to WeakStreams
The closure of WeakStreams leaves many sports fans wandering around the internet, looking for alternative websites like WeakStreams. The recommended alternatives to WeakStreams, when it comes to sports streaming, are always legitimate alternatives, such as the following:
- Sling TV: Sling TV is a budget-friendly sports stream service (starting at $40/month). Sling TV provides different packages for sports fans. Orange has ESPN, Blue includes FS1 and NFL Network (Sling Blue lacks RSNs and network broadcasts). The $11/month Sports Extra add-on offers NBA, NHL, and MLB channels.
- ESPN Plus: ESPN Plus is a stand-alone service, perfect for casual sports fans (starting at $10/month to $100/year). This streaming WeakStream alternative covers various sports games and is included in the $13 Disney bundle and Hulu Plus Live TV package. It offers NHL, global soccer, UFC pay-per-view events, MLB games, tennis, and golf coverage.
- YouTube TV: At $73/month (initially $65), YouTube TV offers FS1, FS2, ESPN, TBS, TNT, major national networks, and 4 RSNs. The Sports Plus package adds BeIn and NFL Red Zone. We recommend, checking local availability using your ZIP code.
- DirecTV Stream: DirecTV Stream is ideal for sports enthusiasts as it comes with an extensive sports channel lineup. This service is pricier than others, with a $100 package offering Regional Sports Networks (RSNs) and league channels. The $75 Plus package includes major networks, ESPN, TNT, FS1, and TBS. For RSNs and specific league channels, opt for the $100 Choice plan.
- FuboTV: Priced at $75/month, FuboTV offers 35 RSNs, ESPN, local networks (ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox), FS1, FS2, BeIn Sports, Big 10 network, and Golf channel. It lacks TBS and TNT but compensates with comprehensive content.
- Hulu Plus Live TV: Hulu Plus Live TV includes an ESPN Plus subscription (It balances cost-effectiveness and value). For $70, get ESPN, ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox, FS1, FS2, TBS, TNT, NFL Network, and 4 RSNs.
Not all of these sports streaming services are available globally. In fact some are only available across NorthAmerica. We recommend using a reliable VPN or proxy server (SOCKS5).
Final Words.
This is not the first time U.S. authorities have targeted sports piracy sites like Weakstreams. There have been past crackdowns timed around major events like the Super Bowl.
It is clear that the fight against piracy sports sites like Weakstreams will continue. Law enforcement and copyright agencies have the resources to combat these sites and succeed. But still, the fight against piracy resembles the cat-and-mouse chase it will never stop. Online pirates will adopt other types of technologies and mediums to distribute pirated content and profit.
We recommend checking out the legal WeakStreams alternatives presented in this post. SlingTV, FuboTV, ESPN Plus, YoutubeTV, and more are not free, but they do provide reliable and legal streaming of all major sports events.Â
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