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.
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.
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.
Friend MTS and AgileTV have completed the first integration of AgileTV’s content delivery network (CDN) with Friend MTS’ server-side watermarking technology.
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
According to the US Department of Justice (DOJ), nearly 3,000 websites were blocked or seized for illegally streaming World Cup matches.
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.
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.
