Report: 6.5% US households pirating TV monthly

According to Global Internet Phenomena Spotlight, a report focusing on paid subscription television piracy services from network intelligence  specialist Sandvine, reveals that 6.5 per cent of households in North America are accessing pirated live television services each month, an adoption rate that may cost Communication Service Providers (CSPs) over $4 billion in revenue in 2017.

The report is based on data collected from multiple fixed access networks in North America and examines the mechanics, economics, and usage drivers of pirated television services. Other highlights from the report include:

• Pirate television services could generate over $800 million annually for the operators
• Many pirate television configurations stream 24/7, whether users are watching or not, resulting in many users generating over 1TB of ‘phantom bandwidth’ across their network each month
• The Mayweather vs MacGregor boxing match in August accounted for 80 per cent of all pirate streams the evening it occurred, and the event may have been watched by 1 per cent of all households in North America
• Premium television, live sports, news, and international content are the main drivers of pirate television usage

“Continued adoption of pirate video and television streaming services could lead to increased cord-cutting and create ‘cord-nevers’, people who never sign-up for a standard TV subscription. This will significantly impact CSPs’ revenue and profitability, undermining the business models that keep them operating,” said Lyn Cantor, CEO, Sandvine. “The active network intelligence that Sandvine provides can help CSPs monitor the threat that pirate television services pose, while also supporting law enforcement and regulatory efforts aimed at preventing the proliferation of illegal streaming services.”