On 27/5, Bac Ninh Provincial Police announced that the Investigative Police Agency had initiated criminal proceedings against 10 individuals involved in the network for "copyright and related rights infringement" under Article 225 of the Criminal Code.

According to police, a Hanoi resident organized and operated the Bun Cha TV website system, illegally broadcasting numerous sports tournaments with purchased copyrights in Vietnam. Daily, this system attracted hundreds of thousands of visits for English Premier League, Champions League, and other sports matches. All matches featured Vietnamese commentary and a professional interface, drawing a large audience.

Beyond pirating sports content, the website also embedded advertisements and redirected viewers to illegal online gambling sites. Higher traffic translated directly into increased earnings from advertising and betting.

To operate, the network established distinct departments for programming, website operation, content, commentators, advertising, search engine optimization (SEO), and accounting. This network functioned as an "underground company" in the cyber domain.

Group leaders then recruited additional collaborators, assigning tasks online, which meant most members of the network did not know each other in person. All communication and payments were conducted online. Police described the system as "operating quite professionally," frequently changing access devices, domain names, and relocating across different areas.

Police working with a suspect in the network. Photo: *Bac Ninh Provincial Police*

The network's structure assigned specific roles: the programming team maintained transmission and broadcast technology; the operations team updated match schedules and embedded viewing links; the commentators provided live commentary to retain viewers; and the advertising and search engine optimization (SEO) teams were tasked with driving traffic to the website.

The system's primary revenue came from advertising and redirecting viewers to online betting sites. Many broadcasts also featured "odds" analysis and score predictions, designed to entice viewers into gambling. Participants in this network received high compensation, with commentators alone earning 50-70 million VND monthly.

Following a period of reconnaissance, on 15/5, the special task force summoned numerous suspects and searched related residences and workplaces. Police confiscated 38 computers, 42 mobile phones, recording devices, bank accounts, and software used for illegal broadcasting.