EU asks not to stream sports events illegally
Anyone who streams the European Football Championship illegally is harming the sport, the EU warns. In Germany, illegal viewing is still comparatively rare.
Nine percent of all Germans use illegal sports streams.
(Image: Shutterstock.com/VesnaArt)
The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) warns against watching sporting events such as the upcoming European Football Championship in Germany from illegal sources. This not only infringes intellectual property rights, but also damages the sport, the EUIPO announced on Wednesday.
"We are all looking forward to a summer full of exciting competitions, and fair play is essential - both for the players on the pitch and for the spectators at home," writes EUIPO Director João Negrão. Property rights not only protect fans, but also serve to promote athletes. "By watching the official broadcasts and buying licensed products, we are ensuring the continuity of our beloved sports for future generations."
One in ten Germans streams sport illegally
According to EUIPO estimates, media piracy generates a total turnover of 1 billion euros every year. In Germany, illegal soccer streaming is still relatively uncommon: Nine percent stated in an EUIPO study that they had downloaded or streamed sports content from illegal sources. The frontrunner is Bulgaria, where 21% of respondents stated that they had watched sports content from illegal sources. The EU average was twelve percent.
Younger people in particular use illegal content: Among 15 to 24-year-olds across the EU, 27 percent said they used such sources. The figures come from a survey on intellectual property published by the EUIPO last summer. In January and February 2023, 26,000 people across the EU were surveyed for the study.
One reason for the popularity of illegal streaming may lie in the complex structure of the providers: If you want to watch all Bundesliga matches in Germany, for example, you have to subscribe to both Sky and DAZN. The costs are high: DAZN costs 45 euros for a monthly subscription, while Sky's Bundesliga subscription costs 35 euros. There are additional providers for other competitions - Amazon Prime Video, for example, shows some Champions League matches exclusively.
34 of 51 matches in the upcoming European Championships can be watched on TV or as an online live stream on ZDF and ARD. Twelve more matches can be seen on RTL. People with a TV contract can watch for free, but the matches will only be available online via RTL+, which is subject to a charge. You can only really watch all the games with the Deutsche Telekom subscription MagentaTV. MagentaTV costs at least ten euros for a monthly subscription, which can be canceled at any time.
(dahe)