Survey: 63% of Indonesians streaming pirates
December 20, 2019
By Colin Mann
A study of the online content viewing behaviour of Indonesian consumers, revealed that nearly two thirds (63 per cent) of online Indonesian consumers have accessed streaming piracy websites or torrent sites to access premium content without paying any subscription fees.
The survey, commissioned by the Asia Video Industry Association’s Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) and conducted by YouGov, also found that 29 per cent of consumers use a TV box which can be used to stream pirated television and video content. These TV boxes, also known as Illicit Streaming Devices (ISDs), pre-loaded with illegal applications, allow users to access hundreds of pirated television channels and video-on-demand content, usually with a low annual subscription fee.
The illegal application indoXXI(Lite) was by far the most popular application and used by 35 per cent of ISD users. This application was even more popular amongst the younger demographic with 44 per cent of those aged 18yrs-24yrs admitting to using this illegal service. Of the 63 per cent of consumers who admit to accessing streaming piracy websites or torrent sites, a staggering 62 per cent stated that they had cancelled all or some of their subscription to legal pay-TV services.
To fight back against this rampant and damaging online piracy the Video Coalition of Indonesia (VCI) have been working closely with KOMINFO – the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology – to identify and block domains associated with piracy websites and applications. Since July this year over 1,000 piracy websites and illegal application domains have been blocked by KOMINFO.
Members of the VCI include AVIA’s Coalition Against Piracy (CAP), APFI, APROFI, GPBSI, Emtek Group, MNC Group, Viva Group, Telkom Indonesia, Cinema 21 Group, CGV, Cinemaxx, HOOQ, iflix, Viu, Rewind, SuperSoccerTV and Catchplay.
The Indonesian content industry were unified and vocal as to the damaging impact the locally operated piracy websites were having on their industry:
“APFI are alarmed by the results of the new study commissioned by CAP revealing that 63 per cent of online Indonesian consumers have accessed piracy streaming websites or torrent sites,” stated Chand Parwez, Chairman of Asosiasi Perusahaan Film Indonesia (APFI). “Content theft unarguably hurts the Indonesian creative industry by stealing from it’s creators. These illegal websites also place users at high risks of exposure to malware. We praise the efforts of KOMINFO and the Video Coalition of Indonesia in fighting this pandemic through identifying and blocking over a thousand piracy websites and domains and will continue to do all that APFI can to support them.”
“The recent survey shows that the piracy activities have significant damaging impact on legitimate content services, not to mention the pornography and gambling activities that are served up by these illegal sites,” noted Hendy Lim, Vice President, Content Business EMTEK. “We strongly urge the government and industry stakeholders to take meaningful action against the Indonesian crime groups behind the piracy websites. This is essential for the development of Indonesia’s media and creative industry.”
“This year has seen nearly 2,000 screens in operation; and in 2020, a total of 3,000 screens will be rolled out across Indonesia,” reported Djonny Sjafruddin the Chairman of GPBSI , the Indonesian cinema association. “Strong investments are in play, both by local and international stakeholders, by cinema operators and content makers. However, the greatest hindrance to this huge investment and our industry as a whole, is online piracy. According to the YouGov study, 63 per cent of Indonesian online consumers have accessed streaming websites or torrents, amounting to tens of millions of users. The fight against piracy has begun, and praise should be given to the Video Coalition of Indonesia (VCI) and KOMNIFO for blocking over a thousand piracy websites and illicit application domains. The entire film fraternity must unite against the scourge of online piracy.”
“APROFI applauds KOMINFO in blocking the piracy websites that are damaging our industry,” declared Edwin Nazir, Chairman of APROFI. “Trillions of rupiah are being lost to the content industry every year and ending up in the pockets of crime syndicates. Content theft on its’ current scale is unsustainable and we urge the government to become more involved in the fight against criminals that monetise these piracy websites.”
Neil Gane, the General Manager of AVIA’s Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) warned of the potential risks faced by those consumers who accessed piracy websites and illicit applications. “The damage that content theft does to the Indonesian creative industry is without dispute. However, the damage done to Indonesian consumers themselves, because of the nexus between content piracy and malware, is only beginning to be recognised. The piracy ecosystem is a hotbed for malware. Unfortunately, the appetite for free and accessing stolen content via piracy websites or illicit streaming devices blinkers some consumers from the real risks of malicious malware infection such as spyware.”