One Third of Premier League Fans Watch Illegally Streamed Matches

A new report from the BBC has shown that more than one third of Premier League fans admit that they have watched illegally streamed matches either online or through unofficial streams.  The poll shows that younger adults are more likely to use these unauthorized products rather than watching through Sky TV or BT Sport.

Growing problem

Around 25% of those surveyed said they often watched matches through special technology including Kodi boxes that allow them to see illegal streams of matches.  Currently, only Sky TV or BT Sport have the license to officially broadcast Premier League matches.  

The Premier League themselves are keen for a crackdown on unofficial ways to watch matches and says that the law will catch up with the pirates and that it also will protect its copyright – the matches and the league itself.

Other figures

Other stats from the poll of 1,000 for 5 Live Daily included:

• Nearly 50% of fans said they had used an unofficial provider to stream a match at least once
• One third of those surveys said they did so at least once a month
• One in five used the unofficial methods to watch a match once a week
• Many who illegally stream are doing matched betting for football also do when betting on horse racing

Some of the reasons given for using these illegal alternatives included that someone in their friends or family circle was doing it and they just sat and watched.  Others said that they believed that paid sports TV packages weren’t good value for money.  Some cited the quality of the stream as a reason for opting for these methods.

Just under 33% admitted they didn’t know whether it was illegal or not to stream a live Premier League match online while another 33% confirmed that they had always known it was an illegal move.

European judgement

The survey comes after a ruling by the European Court of Justice in April that placed pirated streams in the same legal category as copyright-infringing downloads and means they are illegal to watch.  The move meant that watching these streams is no longer a grey area but according to the Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) means it is ‘very black and white’.

The Premier League is also seeking to protect the value of the TV deal it has arranged with Sky TV and BT Sports, who paid a record £5.136 billion for the rights to show matches across three seasons.  Last year saw the biggest drop in Premier League viewing numbers with Sky seeing a 14% drop while BT had a 2% drop in viewer numbers.

Reasons for this could include the relegation of well-supported teams such as Aston Villa and Newcastle United while Sky has also encouraged people to use legitimate alternatives such as Sky Go and Now TV to view matches.

Crackdown

The Premier League announced earlier this year that it was launched its biggest ever anti-piracy crackdown that would be focusing on providers of illegal streams but also on those supplying the equipment.  

A High Court judgement in March meant that the UK’s four biggest internet service providers now have the ability to block access to online servers with the aim of making it harder for pirates.  This means that the pre-loaded boxes that allow pirate broadcasts will be shut down and people found to have them could face being jailed or having to pay high fines.

A spokesman for the Premier League said it will continue to protect its copyright and the ‘legitimate investment’ made by broadcasting partners.  This investment allows clubs to develop and to buy new players as well as to invest in facilities and to help all levels of football around the UK.

Great Golf Gifts for Men

Are you buying a gift for a golf fan? When someone has a passion, it often makes it easier to buy presents for him or her, as you already have a theme. However, you want to ensure you get the person something they are going to like. Golf balls are great, but they are the obvious choice, and it is likely that the person you are buying for will receive them from tons of other people. So, what other options do you have?

Golf gadgets

There are so many great golfing gadgets available today, adding another dimension to the sport. The Garmin TruSwing gadget is a great choice. This is aimed towards improving the user’s swing. It features an advanced swing sensor that provides the measurement of various metrics, including club angles, club-path, speed, swing tempo, and more. Another good gadget to consider is a distance finder. This is a piece of technology that will measure balls from hundreds if not thousands of meters away. Make sure you assess the different features before purchasing, such as yard accuracy, magnification, and optics.

Golf buggy

If you want to get someone a really special gift, why not purchase him or her a golf buggy? There are some amazing golf buggies on the market today, including those that are motorised and fully controllable, meaning the recipient will not have to carry their clubs around anymore, or even push the buggy themselves!

Golf clothing

For something a bit more budget friendly, why not buy some golf clothes for your friend, family member, or partner? You can never have too many clothes, after all. Plus, golf clothing has got more flamboyant and stylish over the past few years, meaning there is a much greater selection of clothing to choose from. Play it safe with a well-known brand. Nike golf trousers are a good place to start. Everyone knows that Nike create premium quality clothing, and their style appeals to the masses, so you can’t go too wrong if you go down this route.

Wearable band

Wearable tech is highly popular at present, and there are some great wearable bands for golf fans, for example, the Golf Buddy BB5. This band can display the distances to the back, front, and center of any green from more than 37,000 international courses. In fact, this band is so intelligent that it can detect what course a user is playing on, as well as what hole they are currently navigating. With a long battery life, it can be used for a full day without any problems.

Memorabilia

Is there a particular golf player that the person you are buying for looks up to? If so, why not look for golfing memorabilia on the Internet? From signed golf balls to posters, there are many different types of memorabilia to choose from, and this is bound to be something the recipient loves. Plus, it shows that you have gone to a lot of effort to hunt down something special.

Hopefully, you now have a few suggestions that will help you find the perfect golf gift for your other half, best friend, or family member. Simply do a bit of digging online, and you will come across all types of wonderful presents. Thanks to modern technology, there are so many unique gifts to choose from today. If you are feeling a bit unsure about a particular product, read feedback from past customers, and this will help you to make up your mind on what’ll make the best present for the golf lover in your life.

Get 25% Back when you spend $50 at Kohl's #Swagbucks

Swagbucks has a deal where you can get 25% back when you spend $50 at Kohl’s, and that's before any deals you'll get through Kohl's Cash. 

Here's how you take advantage of this deal: 

1. Click here and sign up for Swagbucks if you haven't already. Make sure you create your "Swag Name" after you sign up. 
2. Send an image of your product(s) along with the qualifying receipt to Iredeemkohls@swagbucks.com and include your Swag Name in the subject line. 

That's all you need to do to secure your 1250 SB credit, which is equal to $12.50 - that's 25% back on your purchase. If you already have a Swagbucks account, you can get a $50 Kohl’s gift card for 4650 SB, a 7% discount of the usual price.  

Haven't tried Swagbucks yet? They're a site where you earn points (called SB) for doing things like shopping, watching videos, taking surveys, and discovering deals and services you might like to try. You then take those points and turn them into free gift cards to places like Amazon, Starbucks, Walmart, Target, or PayPal cash.

Preparing for the Future: Saving Money by Purchasing Your Engagement Ring Online

You are engaged, and there is a lot to consider. There is the cost of the wedding, but there are other expenses to think about after getting married, like buying a home. Failing to plan can stress newlyweds, but thankfully you are thinking about it and trying to save money wherever you can. One way to do that is to purchase the engagement ring online rather than in a store, and the following are a few financial benefits for doing so.

No Runaround

Time is not something you should take for granted. There is a lot to do right now, and you do not need to run around town to find the right engagement ring. Driving to stores not only wastes your time, but it also cost money in traveling expenses.

This may not seem like much, but the fact is that you do not have to do any of that online. You have all the choices you could ever find online, without leaving your home. You can take care of all the other issues you have to worry about, like where you are going to go for your honeymoon while you look for the right engagement ring settings.

Lower Cost

Operating a physical store can cost a lot of money. There are several bills to pay and taxes to deal with. All these expenses are reflected in the engagement store's prices, which will end up hurting you. This is perhaps one of the main reasons you will find cheaper engagement rings online rather than the store.

Online stores do have expenses, but they are nowhere near the amount a physical store will have to pay, which you can use to your advantage. Every penny you end up saving should go into your fund, which will help you take your next step as newlyweds.

Easier Return

You have probably encountered one or two store return policies that make it pretty difficult for you to return an item you are not happy with. Physical stores can make things difficult for customers because they do not want them to return an item. Online stores are different because it is in their best interest to make things easy for you.

Online stores know that customers expect an easy return policy, or they will be inclined to not trust them. Furthermore, online stores know that comments or reviews made online are forever and could dissuade other customers from making purchases from their stores. There is no risk of you losing money or going through difficult return policies when shopping online like you might have to deal with in physical stores.

All of these benefits can help you plan for your future. You two may be thinking of mortgaging a home, which means that you have to have a down payment. You might even be thinking of purchasing a second car to make things easier for yourselves. In short, you need to figure out how you can save money at every corner and, as you can see, buying your engagement ring online is one step in the right direction.

Swagathlon Sweet Treat Team Challenge #Swagbucks

On your marks, get set, EARN! Swagbucks is holding a fun team challenge called the "Swagathlon" to help you earn free gift cards! For those of you who don't know what Swagbucks is, it's a website where you can earn cash back on everyday tasks you do online like shopping, answering surveys, discovering deals, and watching videos. You can even earn for searching the web! 

If you've never tried Swagbucks before because you didn't know where to begin, their Team Challenges are a great way to learn the ropes! The challenge, begins Monday, July 17th at 8am PT, but you can pre-register starting on Friday, July 14th!
Here's how you can join the challenge and the site:  

1. Click here to join the challenge and be assigned to a team.

2. Starting June 17th at 8am PDT, in addition to earning SB you'll contribute points to your teams total as you complete different activities on Swagbucks.

3. Check back on the page often to see the scores and what you've contribute so far.   

All members who participate and contribute at least 600 points to their team’s total will receive a SB bonus in the form of a SB Swag Up Rebate on their next gift card! 

Not only that, but if you sign up under me this month and earn 300 SB before August 1st, you'll get a 300 SB bonus!

Members of the 1st place team will receive a 100 SB Swag Up Rebate, members of the 2nd place team will receive a 50 SB Swag Up Rebate, and members of the 3rd place team will receive a 30 SB Swag Up Rebate. Your SB Swag Up Rebate will be made available on Friday, July 21st at 2pm PT and will expire on Friday, August 4th at 11:59pm PT.