August 19, 2026, 10:45 am | Read time: 2 minutes
Rising prices and a fragmented offering are overwhelming more and more fans. The result: growing frustration, so-called streaming fatigue, and a resurgence of online piracy. Consequently, providers of illegal streaming and IPTV are seeing a massive influx. However, pressure from law enforcement is increasing. As a result, the provider Cineby now plans to cease operations.
Cineby Ends Illegal Streaming
Cineby is currently still one of the largest illegal streaming services on the internet, with more than 160 million visits per month. But as reported by “Torrentfreak,” the operators plan a complete shutdown by August 26. Partner platforms such as Cineplay and Fmovies+ will also be affected.
Anyone visiting Cineby now will see a notice about the impending closure. “It was a good run, but now it’s time to stop,” it states. On the deadline, all servers will be shut down and all user accounts deleted. The operators do not provide an official reason.
Global Pressure Increases–Including from Hollywood
For some time, operating illegal streaming and IPTV platforms has become increasingly risky, and Cineby has also come under international scrutiny. For instance, the Motion Picture Association (MPA), the association of major film production companies in Hollywood, previously listed Cineby as a piracy site and also suggested a possible connection to Russia. In the United Kingdom, Canada, and India, Cineby has also been targeted by studios’ legal efforts to take the site offline.
It is therefore assumed that the operators simply got cold feet and want to preempt serious legal consequences. Whether they will follow through with the plan remains to be seen. It is also conceivable that Cineby will simply reinvent itself to avoid repercussions–a strategy that has already worked for other portals.
Also of interest: 24 Portals for Illegal Internet TV Blocked
Furthermore, it is expected that with the closure of Cineby, several new alternatives will emerge, especially since demand is likely to remain high. The domain name itself could also be of interest to others due to the massive traffic.