A UK study warns that illegal streaming exposes viewers to fraud, identity theft, malware and potentially organised crime; 37% of active users surveyed had encountered harmful or unsafe content. Researchers estimate fraud and theft cost these users about £270 million annually, while UK consumers spend around £1.2 billion a year on pirated content.
Bosnia and Herzegovina’s cable operators and audiovisual rights groups are urging online platforms and advertisers to speed up the removal of ads for illegal IPTV services. Discussions focused on clearer reporting procedures, but no platforms or implementation timetable were named.
Illegal streaming costs UK broadcasters an estimated £1.35 billion annually, including losses from sports, films and television. The study estimates wider effects equivalent to 10,400 jobs and £366 million in lost tax revenue, potentially reducing investment in production and sport.
A WPI Economics study estimates that 31% of UK adults accessed illegal streams in the previous three months, rising to 51% among 18–24-year-olds. Films and TV were more commonly pirated than live sports, and social media was the most common access route.
At the US Chamber of Commerce's Digital Piracy Symposium, leaders emphasized that digital piracy has evolved into a significant threat to consumers and businesses, necessitating a comprehensive approach to enforcement and policy that addresses its broader implications beyond copyright infringement.
UK anti-piracy organisation FACT says enforcement activity over the summer has resulted in prison sentences, arrests and financial penalties against operators and users of illegal streaming services.
Omdia's study emphasizes the need for a shift from reactive to preventive anti-piracy measures in the streaming era, highlighting the limitations of traditional methods and advocating for multi-DRM, forensic watermarking, and application security to enhance content protection.
CANAL+ and LALIGA have signed a strategic anti-piracy agreement covering almost 50 countries across Europe, Africa and Haiti.
The Omdia study Next-Generation Anti-Piracy for TV and Video: Why the streaming era demands a shift from reaction to prevention therefore warns that piracy can no longer be viewed solely as a technical or legal issue.
Irdeto and blockchain data specialist Chainalysis are strengthening their partnership to tackle digital piracy and cryptocurrency-enabled cybercrime.
Despite the increase in legal streaming services, piracy remains prevalent, with over 21% of online adults using unauthorized sources, particularly among engaged viewers like sports fans. The study highlights that convenience and ease of access are significant factors driving this trend.
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.
Friend MTS and AgileTV have completed the first integration of AgileTV’s content delivery network (CDN) with Friend MTS’ server-side watermarking technology.
Nearly 1.2 million households across the Nordic region now have access to illegal IPTV services, spending an estimated €280 million a year, according to new research from Mediavision.
A 68‑year‑old man from Chorley has been sentenced to six and a half years in prison for running a large‑scale illegal IPTV operation that generated £980,812 in criminal profits.
Leaks regarding “The Odyssey” and “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” show that Hollywood is entering a new phase in the battle for control over content, distribution, and brand value.
There were 6.2 billion illegal streams of 90 seconds or more globally for the Spain vs Argentina Final match according to GCI. While the FIFA World Cup 2026 broke viewing records in the U.S. on linear TV and on streaming platforms, new data from Gaming Compliance International (GCI) suggests that an enormous amount of illegal ... Continue reading
Fake streaming sites are using Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster to steal payment details, passwords and personal information
The fight against the illegal distribution of audiovisual content on the internet has reached unprecedented levels in Canada.
According to the US Department of Justice (DOJ), nearly 3,000 websites were blocked or seized for illegally streaming World Cup matches.
FACT and Sky have issued legal warnings to 10 suspected illegal IPTV resellers in Ireland as part of their latest action against so-called dodgy boxes.
Maria Malinkowitsch offers a snapshot of live-streaming piracy in 2026, what it’s costing major sports rightsholders, why the fragmentation of sports rights and the cost burden on fans is making the industry susceptible to pirates.
Nearly one in five people who illegally stream television, films or live sport have suffered a malware infection in the past year, according to new research published by the BeStreamWise anti-piracy campaign.
The digital advertising industry has launched a coordinated campaign to cut advertising revenue to more than 1,300 websites illegally streaming or distributing content from the FIFA World Cup.
