ILLEGAL STREAMING COSTS UK ECONOMY £1.35BN A YEAR, REPORT FINDS
Illegal streaming is costing the UK economy at least £1.35 billion a year and is linked to the loss of more than 10,000 jobs, according to a report commissioned by anti-piracy initiative BeStreamWise.
The Price of Piracy, produced by WPI Economics, estimates that piracy across sport, film and television results in 10,400 fewer jobs across the economy. Of these, 4,200 are in broadcasting and media production, with a further 6,200 in related sectors including advertising, publishing, retail and the wider creative industries.
The report also puts the annual loss in tax revenues at £366 million. BeStreamWise said this is equivalent to the cost of employing around 9,400 qualified NHS nurses, providing 140 million free school meals or funding 43 million childcare hours.
BeStreamWise is calling for a coordinated response from government and industry, including greater consumer awareness of the risks associated with piracy and measures to make illegal services more difficult to find and access.
Sir John Whittingdale MP, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Intellectual Property, said the findings should be a “wake-up call” for government and Parliament.
“This report provides concrete evidence that piracy costs the UK economy more than £1 billion every year and jeopardises thousands of creative industry jobs,” he said. “It also directly exposes consumers to the risk of fraud.”
Matt Hibbert, Group Director Anti-Piracy at Sky, said illegal streaming diverts money from investment in British television, film and sport, while exposing consumers to fraud, scams and identity theft.
The report argues that lost income limits broadcasters’ ability to reinvest in new programming and independent production. It also notes that sports-rights revenues help fund women’s sport, grassroots participation and talent development.
Liz Bales, Chief Executive of the British Association for Screen Entertainment, said tackling piracy requires a more integrated approach as viewing habits and piracy tactics evolve.
Source: broadbandtvnews.com
