Illegal access to free-TV or pay-TV livestreams caused an estimated €2.4bn in economic damage in Germany last year, according to a new study published by industry association VAUNET.
The figure represents a 33% increase compared with the previous assessment in 2022, despite ongoing technical protections, court action and public‑awareness efforts.
The report, compiled by consultancy Goldmedia, estimates that the state missed out on around €542m in taxes and social‑security contributions in 2025, up nearly 40% on 2022. Media companies directly affected by piracy suffered losses of roughly €1.5bn, with further costs arising along the wider value chain.
Around 7.7 million people in Germany accessed illegal linear TV streams in 2025, the study found. Usage was highest among 16‑ to 33‑year‑olds, with almost three‑quarters of respondents saying illicit streams were the most convenient way to watch live television. At the same time, the authors note that willingness to use legal services increases when illegal alternatives are unavailable.
VAUNET Managing Director Frank Giersberg said the findings underline the scale of the problem: “TV piracy remains a mass phenomenon with significant damage for media providers, media plurality and the public purse. We urgently need more effective tools to curb illegal TV use and protect media diversity.”
The association is calling for faster and clearer obligations for platforms and hosting services to remove unlawful content, more dynamic blocking measures that allow access providers to disrupt illegal live streams during broadcasts, and a more efficient allocation of responsibility so that rights holders can act against illegal services without first having to identify largely anonymous operators.
The study (PDF) is based on passive measurement of the online behaviour of more than 2,500 users, combined with a representative online survey of over 500 people who consume illegal linear TV streams. The survey was conducted between 4 and 16 June 2025. It focuses on illegally distributed free‑to‑air and pay‑TV streams; piracy involving downloads or video‑on‑demand content was not included.
The authors note that the actual extent of illegal use of linear TV streams is likely to be significantly higher than the survey results suggest, due to respondents under reporting socially undesirable behaviour.
