Tackling Illegal Sports Streams
Combatting illegal sports piracy to protect the athletes we love and to keep fans safe
Have you ever wondered what it takes to bring the Olympics or the World Cup to reality? All major sporting events are the result of many stakeholders working together, as well as the dedication and sacrifice that athletes put into every great sporting moment.
Fans are also part of this ecosystem and play a pivotal role in supporting the athletes they love and keeping sports alive. Landing a jump, scoring a goal, or completing a race can now be cheered and celebrated in stadiums, at home, or even on the go, thanks to modern technology.
But there is also a dark side: according to one study, approximately USD 28 billion is lost globally to piracy each year. Piracy of sporting events cheats not only those that hold broadcasting rights, but also two other important groups in the sports ecosystem: athletes and fans.
How does money earned from sports broadcasting rights benefit athletes?
IP in sports comes in different forms, so securing the economic value of sports is of utmost importance to sustain this ecosystem. Sports organizations rely on the revenue from the sale of sports broadcasting and media rights as a large portion of their funding, which is invested in programs to support athlete development and grassroot projects across the world.
One example is the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which owns the global broadcasting rights for the Paris Olympic Games including broadcasts on television, radio and digital platforms. The IOC estimates that they spend around $4.2 million per day to support athletes and sports organizations all over the world via Olympic Solidarity funding. That amounts to over $1.5 billion per year spent on helping athletes from all over the world achieve their dreams.
Therefore, all revenue that is lost to piracy means:
- Less financing for athletes, teams and coaches;
- Less resources for infrastructure development and maintenance; and
- Less resources for event organization and operation.
Risks of illegal sports streaming for fans
Sports fans are also put at serious risk when accessing websites and apps to watch pirated content: it takes only 71 seconds for malware to be installed on a device when accessing a site with pirated content and there is a 57% chance that an app for watching pirated content is installed with embedded malware. Another risk involved in watching sports from illegal websites and apps is becoming a victim of identity theft or ransomware.
According to a survey carried out by Crimestoppers UK, there are around 3.2 million people who access illegal streaming who are infected by computer viruses per year, with 2.7 million people that have experienced a virus, fraud, or personal data theft after accessing illegally streamed content, and over 1.5 million people who have had their money stolen after watching illegal streams. In Australia, research conducted by Creative Content Australia revealed that 65% of people who access illegally streamed content have experienced cybersecurity issues.
To crack down on illegal sports streaming, UEFA (the Union of European Football Association) for instance, is working alongside Meta to implement anti-piracy operations to take down illegal streams on social media.
Where can I legally watch the Olympics and other Sporting events?
The good news is that there are many options available to watch your favorite sport legally!
Throughout this summer, sports fans have had many choices of sporting events to watch on television including the UEFA Euro 2024, the Copa America and Wimbledon. But the season is not over yet, with the upcoming Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Tour de France.
Sports fans can safeguard sport and the athletes they love by choosing to watch sporting events on legal sites.
To legally watch the Olympics, the Tour de France, or the preferred Sunday match sports fans can use the following sources
- Agorateka: the European Online Content Portal for legal sources.
- Sports Right Owners Coalition (SROC)’s information about international sports broadcasters.
- The list of Official Olympic Media Right Holders, or opt for a free Olympic Membership.
- The International Paralympic Committee’s list of live streams of major Para sport events.
- The Tour de France’s official broadcasters.
- StreamSafely choice of best sports streaming services.
Disclaimer: This is a non-exhaustive list for informational purposes only and is not endorsed by WIPO.
Making the right choice will not only respect copyright but also support the global sports ecosystem. It will also prevent sports fans from becoming victims of illegal websites.
