'Entertainment isn't just for better off people': Our readers give their views on dodgy boxes

OVER THE WEEKEND, we opened our inbox for you, our readers, to tell us your views on dodgy boxes and illegal streaming.

Our call-out came in the wake of the news that the High Court had granted Sky TV permission to access the details of hundreds of dodgy box users in an effort to clamp down on the illegal practice.

With a recent survey from the Irish Independent suggesting that there may be as many as 400,000 boxes in Ireland, we wanted to hear from those who use dodgy boxes and find out if they have any plans to ditch them.

Some readers were sceptical of our request.

Brian simply responded: “Nice try Sky…”

While Darren emailed us to say:

“Do you think people are so stupid that they’d give you their details so you can pass onto gardaí if they have one? Have a day off, do some real work.”

Others, though, shared some considered and thought-provoking answers. Our sincere thanks to everyone who got in touch.

Here’s what people had to say.

No, nay, never

Perhaps unsurprisingly, a lot of readers (just under half of those who responded) got in touch to say they do not use a dodgy box.

Conor in Killarney wrote: “No experience to tell, I use the real deal – monthly payments and a clear conscience.”

Likewise, Carol (73) from Co Down said her household “prefers to uphold the law” and so does not have a dodgy box.

Of this group, most took issue with the illegality of the practice, while some argued that it was artists and writers who lose out when people chose not to pay for TV.

Louise (43), in Cork, told us she is “really annoyed” by the “general lack of civic pride at the moment” and that there is “no accountability for lawbreakers”.

“I do not have or have never considered owning a dodgy box or doing anything illegal,” she wrote.

“What really annoys me is that we pay approx €250 per month on Sky and various sports channels in our home, and I always feel that there’s no incentive for law-abiding citizens who, in our case, are high taxpayers.”

Another reader, James (85) living in Tipperary, told us that he would “never” have a dodgy box because they are “stealing the wages of the copyright holders” and the people “who make the programmes”.

“This should be brought to the fore,” James wrote.

He added, however: “I have no great sympathy for Sky TV, their prices are exorbitant and they are a very difficult company to leave.”

Similarly, Saoirse (37) in Kildare said she has never used a dodgy box herself, but many of her friends do and think she is “mad” for not having one.

“I work in the cinema sector that relies on people not pirating content. I understand that going to the cinema or signing up for TV or subscription services isn’t cheap, but my job literally means I need people to continue paying for content,” Saoirse wrote.

“Those old piracy ads (‘You wouldn’t steal a handbag’) also play on my mind when people talk about dodgy boxes – it is literally stealing if you don’t pay to watch a film or TV programme.

“Sure, studios and streamers have money, but they have money because people are paying.

“Netflix wouldn’t be long going if everyone switched to dodgy boxes! If you want content to continue being produced, you need to pay for it,” she added.

Saoirse told us that she pays for a basic package on Eir TV, Netflix, Prime and Disney+ all year round and that she signs up for NowTV or Apple TV on an ad hoc basis if there is something particular she wants to watch.

“If I can’t afford all of the subscriptions, I prioritise,” she said.

“I choose what I want to see in the cinema and make a night of it.”

Other readers, like Frank, took a similarly hardline approach.

He wrote:

“Hi, we don’t have a dodgy box because in order of priority:

“It’s stealing. It’s illegal. It affects the price for legitimate subscribers. It affects small companies like Clubber [Clubber TV, a GAA streaming platform].”

Frank added that he pays per view or goes to games in person.

“I don’t have sports streaming, but I do have Netflix and Spotify. I believe people signing up to dodgy boxes can’t expect data protection to prevent prosecution,” he said.

Similarly, Greg in Ardrahan Co Galway, wrote:

“Using a dodgy box pays criminals and deprives artists, authors and of course the companies involved of their rightful fees.”

“Imagine you worked hard on a book or a film for years bringing it to creation only to see your work ripped off and others profiting from your efforts.

“We prosecute TV licence Dodgers and dodgy box users should be treated the same. They are thieves.”

Unlike Greg and Frank, some readers who said they don’t currently use a dodgy box said they wouldn’t be against it in the future.

Advertisement

Many took issue with the prices being charged by traditional TV and streaming companies.

One reader, Paul, told us that while he does not use a dodgy box, he still refuses to pay for streaming services, instead opting for free-to-air TV.

“The prices being asked to watch Sky and other streaming services are scandalous,” he said, adding, “Is it any wonder people are using dodgy boxes?”

“I wouldn’t use Sky or any other streaming services if they were free,” he concluded.

Similarly, Jack told us that he pays for Sky Sports but that “every month it seems that it’s going up in price”.

“I have the tennis channel on Sky Sports because I just watch tennis. But when the Grand Slams start, particularly the French Open in May, I have to pay extra for Sky Sports+ to see these tennis matches even though I am paying for the tennis channel.”

“The ordinary person, I think, is willing to pay for sports but not at those prices,” he said.

‘Not just for those in D4′

And now on to those who do use a dodgy box.

Many readers said the main reason they use dodgy boxes is to watch sport, which would often involve multiple costly subscriptions otherwise.

Others justified their use on a cost-of-living basis.

Chloe (30), from Dublin, explained that her household has used a dodgy box for the last few years but still pays for Netflix and an occasional month of NowTV or Disney+ if there is something specific they want to watch.

“We also pay our TV licence. I do try to use the RTÉ Player sometimes for certain shows, but it is absolutely woeful,” Chloe said.

Her main justification for using the dodgy box was that she and her partner were saving to buy a house.

“In an ideal world, I’d be happy to pay for everything, but it’s relentless out there.

“Maybe if housing, childcare, health insurance, transport, etc. were all more affordable, I would feel more guilty about the dodgy box, but in this economy? No.

She added: “Sky will be fine. Don’t forget they made post-tax profits of £96m in 2024.”

Similarly, Sam (28) from Meath, told us that he used to “scoff at the idea of having to pirate TV/sports/film” but after some convincing from family and friends, getting a dodgy box in 2024 was the “best decision” he “ever made”.

Sam explained that his household loves TV, films and football.

“If we stay focused solely on just the Sky products, it would cost the Irish audience member on average a whopping €1,150 per year or around €96 a month,” he wrote.

“With a dodgy box, I pay under €200 for a year and get everything. Football with my brothers and dad. TV/movies with mum.

“It is blatantly obvious that Sky or any of these other streaming services do not care about their customers. The prices are kicking out working-class families who just want entertainment or football, like anyone else does. These companies only care for profit,” he said.

Sam said the recent news reports had him worried at first, but he added:

“Until I see people being actually charged and arrested, I will not falter.

“Entertainment and sports are not for the better-off people of D4 and well-off families.

“These greedy companies and their boards can kiss our arses.”

Similar to Sam, a reader named Jim emailed us to tell us that he mainly uses his dodgy box to stream boxing matches.

“I would say from listening to other people at my club and from speaking to friends interested in other sports, a lot of us would pay for subscriptions if there was one app or service that just included all the PPV events or major events for a set price over one or two apps.

“At least for sports lovers, the dodgy box system is the best of a bad lot,” Jim said.

He took the view that if the likes of broadcasters, producers and sporting brands put their energy into making things more consumer-friendly, there would be less desire for dodgy boxes.

Jim added: “I also think people as a whole aren’t too bothered because the feeling is police forces should be focused on more serious issues.”

Tony (36), from Meath, told us that the reason his household has a dodgy box is so his parents, who are originally from Hong Kong, can watch Asian channels and media.

“They mainly only watch Chinese shows and news, and maybe the odd South Korean soap,” he said.

On whether Sky’s bid to clamp down on the practice will change their ways, Tony said: “I doubt they will change their use, as they’re older and set in their ways. They also view it as a necessity, as it’s one of the few ways they connect back to their culture and media.”

Noel, a pensioner, didn’t actually tell us whether he uses a dodgy box or not, but he explained why he could understand someone switching to one for cost reasons.

After his Sky bill reached €180 a month, he rang and said he would have to downgrade to broadband only.

They refused because he was still under contract until the end of the year.

“I repeatedly told them we DID NOT have the money. I told them that I’d have to go to their competitors. They refused to deal with me. I paid the next bill and then disconnected Sky completely and binned the equipment.

“They told me they wanted the equipment back. 600+ Euro they said I owed. I now pay €5 monthly for that.

“Why, why, why would someone NOT avail of alternatives when this is how they treat a customer who signed up in 2002?,” he said.

*Some names have been changed.

Click here to read article