Kickass Torrents: Did a Famous Group Start Uploading?

Yes. The piracy release group EZTV began uploading torrents to KickassTorrents (KAT) after its own site was disrupted in 2015, using the name EZTV.AG. That did not mean EZTV had created or taken over KAT: it was a separate group distributing television releases through the torrent index.

What happened to EZTV?

EZTV was known for making television episodes available as torrent files and for operating a site where users could find those releases. In 2015, the group’s original operation was disrupted amid a dispute over control of its web presence. A new group subsequently used the EZTV name and began publishing releases, including on KAT, under the EZTV.AG identity.

The history is often summarized as “EZTV moved to KickassTorrents,” but that wording can be misleading. The important distinction is between a release group and a torrent index. EZTV was associated with producing and distributing episode releases; KAT was a separate site that indexed torrents from many sources. Uploading releases to an index did not make the uploader the owner of that index.

What was KickassTorrents?

KickassTorrents, commonly shortened to KAT, was a prominent torrent-indexing website. It listed torrent metadata and magnet links that could help users connect to peers sharing files. The site was widely used for copyrighted entertainment as well as other material, but an index did not necessarily host the complete files on its own servers.

KAT became one of the best-known torrent sites after The Pirate Bay faced repeated interruptions. In July 2016, U.S. authorities seized domains associated with KAT and arrested its alleged operator, Artem Vaulin, in Poland. The original service was taken offline. Copycat sites and unofficial mirrors later appeared, but their connection to the original operation and their safety varied; the old KAT should not be treated as a currently reliable, official service.

How the torrent relationship worked

A torrent release typically consists of a media file shared among users, plus metadata that helps a BitTorrent client locate pieces of it across peers. A torrent index such as KAT could list a torrent or magnet link, while a release group supplied a particular packaged copy of an episode. Users then relied on a torrent client and other peers to transfer the data.

For a television release, a group might encode or package an episode and publish identifying details such as the show, episode, resolution, and file format. An index could list that release alongside uploads from other groups. EZTV’s appearance on KAT therefore made its releases easier for KAT visitors to find; it did not establish that KAT had commissioned or verified every upload.

• Release group: prepares or labels a release and distributes it through one or more channels.
• Torrent index: catalogs links or metadata submitted by users or groups.
• BitTorrent client: software that exchanges file pieces with peers.
• Peer: a participant sharing some or all of a torrent’s data.

Why the EZTV name caused confusion

The 2015 disruption created uncertainty about who controlled the EZTV identity. The later operators used the familiar name, and the EZTV.AG label became associated with releases on torrent sites. This makes it important to distinguish historical use of a name from proof of continuity. A recognizable label alone cannot show that a later operator was part of the original team.

It is also easy to confuse an uploader’s presence on KAT with an official partnership. Torrent indexes generally carried contributions from many sources, and a listing did not, by itself, certify authenticity, safety, or authorization. Even within piracy communities, release names and reputations could be imitated.

Copyright, security, and present-day context

Sharing copyrighted television episodes without permission can infringe copyright. The legal rules and consequences depend on the country and circumstances, so the fact that a torrent is easy to find—or that many people share it—does not make it authorized. The historical answer about EZTV and KAT is separate from whether downloading a particular file is lawful.

There are also practical security concerns. A torrent listing may be mislabeled, bundled with unwanted software, or linked to a deceptive site. Video files can be used to disguise other file types, and unofficial mirrors may collect personal information or display malicious advertising. A group name or number of seeders is not a guarantee that a download is safe.

For authorized viewing, use a licensed streaming service, a broadcaster’s official site, a library service, or a purchase or rental option available in your region. Public-domain works and content released under an appropriate open licence may also be shared legally, but users should check the licence and source rather than assume that every torrent is permitted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did EZTV create KickassTorrents?
No. EZTV was a release identity associated with television torrents, while KAT was a separate torrent-indexing site. EZTV releases appeared on KAT, but that does not mean EZTV founded or owned it.

What group uploaded torrents to KAT?
The group commonly identified in this story is EZTV, with releases associated with the EZTV.AG name after the original EZTV operation was disrupted in 2015.

Was EZTV.AG the same team as the original EZTV?
Continuity was disputed after the 2015 disruption. The use of the EZTV name does not, on its own, establish that the later operators were the original team.

Is KickassTorrents still operating?
The original KAT service was taken offline following domain seizures and the 2016 arrest of its alleged operator. Later sites using the name have been described as copies or mirrors, not a dependable continuation of the original.

Does a torrent listing prove a file is safe or legal?
No. Listings can be inaccurate or malicious, and popularity does not establish permission to distribute copyrighted material. Check the source and the applicable licence, and avoid suspicious files and sites.

The short answer

The famous group was EZTV: after disruption to its original operation in 2015, releases under the EZTV.AG name began appearing on KickassTorrents. The relationship was one of distribution through a separate index, not evidence that EZTV owned KAT or that every listing was official, safe, or authorized.

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