The authorities and rights holders are firing on all cylinders against IPTV and pirate services. In this area, Italy intends to be exemplary thanks to its brand new system launched in 2023. Recently published figures, however, do little to encourage optimism. Let’s take stock.
Last year, our transalpine neighbors deployed an anti-piracy shield, called Piracy Shield. The Autorità per le Garanzie nelle Comunicazioni (AGCOM), the equivalent of Arcom in France, manages this system which mobilizes legal and technical means to block pirate flows much more quickly than in the past. She is also responsible for bringing criminals to justice.
Those responsible for this service are full of praise for its success. In particular, it would have made it possible to reduce the audience of pirate sites. But are the broadcasters there yet?
Disappointing figures
Recently, AGCOM contacted Brian Turnbow of CDLAN, a technology company that operates, among other things, cloud and hosting solutions. The latter subsequently became interested in the concrete effects of the Piracy Shield.
In particular, he tried to see if this system had made it possible to improve the audience of DAZN, the main broadcaster of the Serie A. His verdict is clear:
The number of users after Anti-Piracy Shield in 2024 is the same as in 2023… no gain. The number of hours watched in 2024 is the same as in 2023, again, no gain. 2024 as a whole is lower than 2022, when there was no anti-piracy shield.
The expert also notes: “So, after 12 months, the data indicates that ISPs incurred costs to implement the service, no users or hours saved for DAZN, and higher prices (the subscription increased from 41 to 45 euros) for end users ».
To qualify these observations a little, and as our colleagues at TorrentFreakwe can retort that the number of subscribers could have decreased if anti-piracy measures had not been put in place.
In any case, these indirect means of viewing sporting competitions are also a hit in France. A few months ago, Benjamin Morel, general director of LFP Media, the commercial subsidiary of the LFP, cited an explosive Ipsos survey on the subject. It turns out that 37% of people who have followed the championship since the start of the season have done so illegally.
What do you think of the strategies currently put in place in France and the rest of the world to fight against these illegal broadcasts? Tell us in the comments.
