Newly released survey finds one third of Taiwanese online consumers have accessed streaming piracy websites or torrent sites. 28% use illicit streaming devices (ISDs) to view pirated TV channels and video-on-demand content.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Taipei 19 February 2020 – A new study of the online content viewing behaviour of Taiwanese consumers, revealed that 33% of consumers have accessed streaming piracy websites or torrent sites to access premium content without paying any subscription fees. In addition, 28% of consumers use a TV box which can be used to stream pirated television and video content. These TV boxes, also known as Illicit Streaming Devices (ISDs), allow users to access hundreds of pirated television channels and video-on-demand content, usually with a low annual subscription fee. TV boxes often come pre-loaded with illegal applications allowing ‘plug-and-play’ access to pirated content. The QBox, UBox and EVPad remain the most popular illicit streaming devices purchased by consumers.
The survey, commissioned by the Asia Video Industry Association’s Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) and conducted by YouGov, highlights the detrimental effects of streaming piracy on legitimate subscription video services. Of the 28% of consumers who purchased a TV box used to stream pirated television and video content, half stated that they had cancelled all or some of their subscription to legal pay TV services.
In addition to the short-term problem of cancelled subscriptions is a longer term problem – namely, many of the people streaming pirated content are young. The survey found that 47% of 18-24 year-olds and 61% of 25-34 year-olds used ISDs or other apps/ services to view infringing entertainment content. The free streaming problem is not limited to the low income demographic. On the contrary, the survey found that the usage rate of piracy streaming services increased with household income level (low income group – 25% mid income group – 35%; high income group – 43% )
Neil Gane, the General Manager of AVIA’s Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) commented, “Consumers are funding crime groups as well as wasting their money when purchasing illicit streaming devices, when they find their ISD can no longer access live sports matches or their favourite TV shows. The global content industry is now collaborating to prevent and disrupt illegal feeds of live sports, TV channels, and video-on-demand content through enforcement against the illicit IPTV operators and blocking orders against piracy streaming websites and piracy applications. ISDs can never provide quality programming and a ‘service guarantee’, no matter what the seller may claim.”
Thomas Ee, the Chairman at Taiwan Broadband Communications also added, “The damage that online piracy does to the Taiwan creative industry is without dispute and the results of this latest survey are alarming. With the support from the Taiwanese government, our industry must continue to work together closely to do more to protect intellectual property and to work even harder to stamp out ISDs and streaming piracy in Taiwan.”
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About the Asia Video Industry Association:
The Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) is the trade association for the video industry and ecosystem in Asia Pacific. It serves to make the video industry stronger and healthier through promoting the common interests of its members. AVIA is the interlocutor for the industry with governments across the region, leads the fight against video piracy and provides insight into the video industry through reports and conferences aimed to support a vibrant video industry. AVIA evolved from CASBAA in 2018.
About the Survey:
Data was collected from 5th December to 9th December using YouGov’s online panel of Taiwan. All data is weighted to be representative of the online population. Sample size: Taiwan n=1033.
About YouGov:
YouGov is an international research and data analytics group. Our core offering of opinion data is derived from our highly participative panel of over 7 million people worldwide. The YouGov Group is headquartered in London and has operations in the UK, North America, Europe, the Nordics, the Middle East and North Africa and Asia. With 35 offices in 22 countries and panel members in 42 markets, YouGov has one of the world’s largest research and data analytics networks. For further information visit https://hk.yougov.com/en-hk/
Contact AVIA:
For media contacts and additional background contact:
Charmaine Kwan
Head of Marketing and Communications
Email: charmaine@avia.org
Website: www.avia.org
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/asiavideoia
Twitter: @AsiaVideoIA
