Telegram Removed More Than 440 Channels During One Live Sports Event

Live sports piracy has evolved.

Today, Telegram is one of the primary platforms for the illegal distribution of live sporting events. Hundreds of channels, groups and bots can begin promoting unauthorised streams hours—or even days—before a match or event, attracting viewers through social media, search engines and messaging apps.

For rights holders, every minute counts.

For the Glory in Giza event, Piracymeter delivered a dedicated live anti-piracy operation for Kyivstar TV, combining proactive monitoring with rapid enforcement throughout the entire event.

Our team identified infringing Telegram channels before the broadcast, continuously monitored newly created channels and mirror communities, and reported illegal streams in real time as they appeared.

Results

• 200+ Telegram channels and bots removed before the live event even started, reducing the availability of illegal streams before viewers began searching for the broadcast.
• 440+ Telegram channels and bots removed during the entire enforcement campaign.
• Additional enforcement targeted social media accounts with a combined audience of more than 3.5 million followers across Twitch, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Threads. These accounts were actively directing users to illegal Telegram broadcasts before and during the event.

The goal was not simply to remove infringing content. It was to minimise piracy at the moment it matters most—when fans are actively looking for a live stream.

Unlike VOD content, live sports require immediate action. A delayed response can result in thousands of viewers being redirected to illegal broadcasts within minutes. Effective protection depends on preparation, continuous monitoring and rapid enforcement throughout the event.

If you're broadcasting premium sports, boxing, football or other live events, Piracymeter can help protect your content before, during and after the broadcast.

Planning your next live event? Contact us to learn how we can help reduce piracy when it matters most.