Cristián Ramón Cobos
Madrid
Tuesday, September 9, 2025, 15:15
The illegal broadcasts of live sporting events continue to grow. In this way it is illustrated that piracy is one of the main threats for rights holders, including LaLiga, according to a new Grant Thornton report, prepared in collaboration with the Live Content Coalition. Two years after the European Commission published its recommendation to combat this phenomenon, the data shows that the problem, far from disappearing, becomes bigger.
In 2024 at least 10.8 million notifications were sent to digital intermediaries for unauthorized broadcasts of live events. But during the first semester of 2025 this figure has shot up to 26.2 million in this period of 18 months. This represents an increase of 142% in this section of the year 2025.
Despite this increase in illegal retransmissions, 89% of notifications did not result in the suspension of the live. In this context in which the data confirms that piracy is a large -scale problem, it also highlights the decline in the effectiveness in the answers, since only 11% of the notifications ended in the suspension. Also, only 6% of the infractions were treated in 30 minutes from the notice and 21% took more than two hours.
Dedicated servers suppliers (DSP) registered a total of 12 million notifications per year, which represents 46% of the total sent. These actors, who supply and manage the technical infrastructure, physical servers and network capacity on which many illegal platforms operate, have become a key actor within the content value chain. Between the DSP and the category of “other hosting suppliers” most notices are concentrated, but with a very low effectiveness.
Joint responses
Table of Contents
- Key Piracy Statistics: A Snapshot
- SEO-Friendly FAQ: Addressing Common questions About Sports Piracy
- What is sports piracy?
- Why is combating sports piracy critically important?
- What are the common methods used for sports piracy?
- What are the consequences of accessing pirated sports content?
- What measures are being taken to fight sports piracy?
- How effective are these measures?
- What can fans do to support the fight against sports piracy?
- What is the role of technology in combating piracy?
- What are the future trends in sports piracy?
In Spain, LaLiga has registered a decrease in piracy of 60% during the 2024-25 season. With the recommendation provided by the European Commission in November 2025, the agency led by Javier Tebas, highlights the importance of a coordinated response that combines technology, social awareness, institutional cooperation and legal action to protect the value of the sport, as well as to guarantee the sustainability of these events in the face of illegal retransmissions.
For this season, LaLiga has launched a new awareness campaign with the motto: «You have pirate football. They have you », to raise awareness among fans about the consequences that Spanish football has to see through unofficial channels, highlighting not only the damage made to sport, but also the exhibition that users have through the theft of personal information.
Key Piracy Statistics: A Snapshot
To further illustrate the scope and impact of live sports piracy, consider the following table that summarizes key data points, offering a comparative analysis of the situation.
Sports Piracy Statistics 2024-2025: Key Trends and Figures” title=”Sports Piracy Statistics 2024-2025″ />
| Metric | 2024 | First Half 2025 | Percentage Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notifications Sent to Digital Intermediaries | 10.8 million | 26.2 million | +142% |
| Notifications Resulting in Suspension | 11% | 11% | 0% |
| Notifications Addressed Within 30 Minutes | 6% | 6% | 0% |
| Notifications Addressed in Over 2 Hours | 21% | 21% | 0% |
| Notifications Originating from Dedicated Server Providers (DSP) | 46% of Total | Data Unavailable | N/A |
This data underscores the increasing challenge of combating sports piracy. Despite a significant rise in notification volume, the rate of successful takedowns remains low, highlighting the evolving strategies employed by illegal streaming platforms and the need for more robust enforcement mechanisms.
SEO-Friendly FAQ: Addressing Common questions About Sports Piracy
To enhance reader understanding and improve search visibility, here’s a detailed FAQ section addressing common questions related to sports piracy:
What is sports piracy?
Sports piracy refers to the unauthorized streaming, downloading, or distribution of live sports content. This includes illegal broadcasts of games, matches, and other sporting events, typically accessed through unofficial websites, apps, or social media channels. Such activities violate copyright laws and deprive rights holders of revenue.
Why is combating sports piracy critically important?
Combating sports piracy is crucial for multiple reasons. it protects the financial viability of sports leagues and broadcasting organizations, ensuring they can continue to invest in talent, infrastructure, and the overall quality of the sporting experiance. Moreover, it safeguards consumers from potential malware and security risks associated with accessing content from unauthorized sources. it helps protect the value of the media rights, which fuels the entire sports ecosystem [[3]].
What are the common methods used for sports piracy?
Common methods include illegal streaming websites,apps,peer-to-peer file sharing,social media,and IPTV services that offer unauthorized access to live sports content. These methods often exploit technological vulnerabilities and a lack of user awareness to distribute pirated content.
What are the consequences of accessing pirated sports content?
Consequences include legal repercussions (such as fines or lawsuits), exposure to malware and viruses, and a risk of having personal data compromised. Users also risk supporting criminal organizations that profit from illegal activities. Specifically,LaLiga’s awareness campaign highlights the theft of personal facts as a primary concern [[1]].
What measures are being taken to fight sports piracy?
Measures include site blocking, legal action against illegal platforms, collaboration with technology partners like Microsoft [[1]], and public awareness campaigns. LaLiga, for example, has implemented a multi-pronged approach in combating piracy [[3]].
How effective are these measures?
The effectiveness varies. Site blocking and legal actions can disrupt illegal operations, but pirated content often reappears quickly. Public awareness campaigns and technological advancements are showing promise, as evidenced by La Liga’s reported 60% decrease in piracy [[1]].
What can fans do to support the fight against sports piracy?
Fans can support the fight by choosing legal, official streaming options, reporting illegal streams, and educating others about the risks and consequences of piracy. awareness is a critical element in curbing illegal activities. Avoiding unofficial channels helps protect the value of sports rights and the integrity of the events themselves.
What is the role of technology in combating piracy?
Technology plays a critical role. this includes advanced content protection measures, monitoring tools to identify illegal streams, and AI-powered solutions to detect and remove pirated content quickly. Partnership with technology companies like microsoft is essential in this area [[1]].
What are the future trends in sports piracy?
Future trends include increasingly sophisticated piracy methods, the use of AI to create deeper fakes or bypass security measures, and the continuous evolution of streaming technology. The convergence of AI and original content will be key [[2]].leagues, rights holders, and technology providers must adapt and innovate to stay ahead of these trends.
