The Russian regulator Roskomnadzor has blocked the retransmission of the channels TV3, TNT, CTC, Dohzd, Pyatnitsa and Ren TV on over 200 internet sites.

According to TelecomDaily, the action was undertaken on the basis of the Moscow City Court’s rulings and though a regular practice is not as common as that of stopping the illegal online distribution of movies.

All told, Roskomnadzor received over 1,200 requests in 2017, based on the court’s rulings, to adopt preliminary measures to protect copyright and associated rights on the internet.

The holders of rights to TV content became particularly active at trying to protect those rights between 2013-15, soon after the anti-piracy law came into effect.

Copyright violations are understood to mainly affect the transmissions of live sports and official ceremonies.