Producers and content creators face financial setbacks during the crisis.
Even though they are known for their well-organized societies, several Nordic countries rank as some of the top consumers of illicit television services within Europe. This conclusion comes from a study conducted by a media analysis firm. Mediavision Has underscored the escalating issue in Sweden. Regardless of attempts to reduce piracy, the usage of illicit content like movies, TV shows, and sporting events continues to grow. During fall 2024, more than 700,000 Swedish homes subscribed to these platforms, indicating a 25% increase since spring 2024.
Overall, Denmark and Sweden recorded a 13% uptake of illegal IPTV (internet protocol television); standing at 10% in Norway and 8% in Finland. Industry body EUIPO observes a comparable increase in traffic to illegal IPTV websites throughout Europe.
The issue is very simple, illegal IPTV allows users to access thousands of TV channels and streaming services at a significantly lower monthly cost than legal services as they are not paying for them. Mediavision estimates that there are currently about 5 million pirate users in the Nordics, aged 15-74 - a year-on-year growth of 0.4 million.
losses exceeding €7 million each month just in Sweden
New instances of piracy have emerged just as domestic production has gained significant acclaim, especially within the realm of television series. However, this industry remains vulnerable. The decline in earnings inevitably impacts these productions since local networks frequently contribute financially to their creation. Certain services can be purchased for as low as €9 each month. This implies that over €7 million monthly is diverted away from content creators in Sweden alone due to such practices.
Natalia Borelius , who works as a project manager at Mediavision, informed an industry magazine Cineuropa : “ Nordic customers are highly digitized, which might account for the prevalent piracy in this region. ”
In early 2024, the Swedish government introduced an extra measure aimed at potentially banning private citizens from using unauthorized IPTV services. Additionally, television corporations such as Discovery, TV4, and Viaplay initiated legal action against telecommunications providers including Telia, Telenor, Tele2, and Hi3G Access AB, seeking their assistance in combating illicit IPTV operations.
(Michael Leahy. Source: Cineuropa. Image: Karolina Grabows / Pexels)