Praise be to Allah.
In the case of encrypted satellite channels for which a subscription is needed in order to view them, it is not permissible to try to unscramble these codes or to help others to do so, because that is transgressing against people's rights and consuming their wealth unlawfully.
These channels are of two types: those which are permissible in and of themselves, which it is permissible to watch and look at; and those which are haraam and it is not permissible to watch them or look at them because of what they contain of things that go against sharee’ah.
Sports channels fall into the second category, which is haraam and not permissible, so looking at them is haraam for two reasons: because of the fact that they are encoded and because of the fact that they contain things that it is not permissible to look at, especially uncovering of ‘awrahs. Sport is not just one kind of game; there is swimming, which involves uncovering the ‘awrahs of women, as is well known; and there is freestyle wrestling which is haraam because of what it involves of extreme harm; and there are other things which are undoubtedly haraam.
The fatwa of the scholars on watching sports channels -- even if it is for free -- has been quoted in the answer to questions number 82718 and 95280.
And Allaah knows best.
Comment