USTVGO Shuts Down Without Warning – What’s Next?

Users of the popular streaming service USTVGO have been left stranded as the service appears to have shut down. A 2021 Nagra report listed this streaming service as one of the most visited streaming sites in the U.S. This leaves users questioning why the providers have taken that turn.

Recently unofficial streaming sites like USTVGO have been receiving DMCA notices from streaming channels like NBCUniversal, ESPN, and Major League Baseball warning streaming sites against pirating their content. However, USTVGO didn’t appear on the list of questionable sites, which leaves users with even more unanswered questions.

The U.S. Trade Representative also had a list of pirate sites followed by mass shutdowns of other streaming sites. Fortunately, USTVGO didn’t appear on this list. Usually, streaming services shut down when the site struggles with user numbers, but this wasn’t the case for USTVGO.

Recent Nagra data showed that this streaming site boasted approximately 2 million visits in early 2021. The site’s popularity grew to an estimated 16 million monthly site visits. About a third of these site visits were from U.S.-based users. The main question users are grappling with is why the service would shut down at the peak of its popularity.

Possible Reasons for the Shutdown

While we don’t have clear details about why USTVGO got shut down, there are speculations of legal pressure. It’s obvious unofficial apps like USTVGO operate in legal gray areas. Even though the service didn’t appear on the notorious piracy list of premium content providers, there’s always the chance that the axe will fall on any third-party streamers without valid licenses. Users speculate this is what led to the USTVGO shutdown.

There’s a good reason why USTVGO’s shutdown is heartbreaking to many users. The first is that it was an all-in-one streaming service with over 90 live local channels. It also featured a variety of premium channels like Disney, CNN, Fox Sports, Discovery NGC, Disney, WWE Network, HBO, History, Showtime, and many more. In addition, this service was free and didn’t require an account or a sign-up process.

After the shutdown, some users thought the service moved their operations to their sister service USTV247. But, unfortunately, when you check the USTV247 site, you’ll see the same ‘Sorry, we are closed’ notification appearing on the site. For USTVGO loyalists, this leaves them in a tough spot.

There were also rumors that the shutdown on both sites may be temporary. This prompted some users to check their social media pages and find answers. Unluckily, their Twitter and Discord accounts were offline. Those who tried to reach them via email also reported their emails as unsent. Meaning they may have pulled their servers.

While many realize that the shutdown may be permanent, some have voiced their complaints on Reddit and other social media platforms. Understandably, USTVGO’s shutdown has left many users confused. It’s important to remember many people opt for third-party streaming services because of the hefty subscription costs of many premium services. The few services affordable to some have a poor content selection, forcing users to subscribe to multiple services to sort all their entertainment needs. Still, with the rise in subscription costs by most streaming services and the ever-high cost of cable, legal alternatives remain unachievable to many.

What Next For USTVGO Users?

The question for many USTVGO users is, what next? We have lined up some USTVGo alternatives. But, if you choose a different third-party streaming site that works like USTVGO, I recommend pairing it with a VPN. Especially since streamers are getting penalized and authorities are paying them home visits, safeguarding your privacy becomes all the more critical.

One of the most reputable VPNs available is ExpressVPN. This VPN will help you mask your I.P. address so the government and ISP can’t track your location.

With ExpressVPN, you don’t have to worry about legal consequences, as your information is safe. In addition, it will encrypt your data, so it’s unreadable to prying hackers who try to intercept it.

Legal Reason?

There hasn’t been any information from the site operators regarding any legal issues. As noted earlier, USTVGO didn’t appear on the crackdown lists issued by relevant licensing authorities. They had a statement on their site claiming it was legal ‘to stream’ content. However, the streaming system was re-broadcasting content from specific services without the shareholders’ permission. This put them firmly in the third-party site category meaning there may have been unknown legal problems. Usually, it’s only a matter of time before licensing issues catch up. It’s hard for a popular site like USTVGO to escape the authorities radar.

There’s no evidence to suggest the USTVGO site was, at any time, controlled by a different party other than the owners. This leaves legal pressure as the likely reason for the sudden shutdown. They may have been served with a cease-or-desist notice with no choice but to shut down the site.

The good news is hundreds of popular streaming sites have had this issue before. It’s hard for a site as popular as USTVGO to go down without a fight. Let’s hope the site operators are creating and preparing an even better service with a different name.

To Wait or Not To Wait?

Only a few streaming services compare to USTVGO or its sister site USTV247. Even worse, some require subscription plans. So users are left with whether to wait for the revival of the streaming service or to start looking for a different service. There’s no clear choice in this case. But with the site down and the official emails and social media accounts suspended, the chances of the site resuming service soon are slim. For now, it’s best a USTVGo alternative.

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