Live sports are more popular than ever, but unfortunately, so is watching them without paying.
As streaming service prices climb and free content becomes harder to find, millions are turning to illegal livestreams to catch their favorite games. According to the latest EU Intellectual Property Office data, sports piracy in Europe grew 36.5% between 2021 and 2023 — building on a sharp 30% jump reported in 2022.
The Business of Illegal Sports Streaming
While a “free” stream may seem convenient, it costs the teams, league, broadcasters, and more, billions of dollars. According to a study from Synamedia, a platform that sells anti-piracy tools, the media and sports broadcasting rights industry loses as much as $28 billion in potential annual revenue due to illegal streaming. Meanwhile, those running the illegal sites are making millions.
Case in point: The administrators behind 247TVStream (an illegal sports streaming service) were charged by the Justice Department in New York for allegedly making more than $7 million on the platform.
But these profits don’t just go to a few rogue website owners. They often fund something much larger. Behind many of these platforms are well-organized, international crime networks that use piracy as a front for more dangerous, large-scale criminal activity.
The Larger Networks Behind Illegal Sports Streaming
Much of online piracy is not run by casual hobbyists, but by sophisticated, organized crime syndicates that operate on an international scale. These networks often manage dozens of mirror sites to make them appear “grassroots” to stay under-the-radar.
The scariest part is that offering free streaming of major sports isn’t the end goal. What these sites are really trying to do is create a gateway to identity theft, credit card fraud, malware distribution, online scams, and more. Many people who stream illegally know there’s a chance it can mess up their computer, but they do it anyway. But saving a few dollars each month on subscription fees isn’t worth what it could cost you in the event of a data breach or legal fees.
How Criminals Profit From User Data
Illegal streaming sites don’t just show pirated content — they harvest your data on a scale far beyond what legitimate services do. A Cornell University study analyzing 467 illegal streaming domains found these sites often use invasive tracking methods like cookies, HTTP requests, browser fingerprinting, and third-party trackers.
These tools allow criminals to collect sensitive information such as passwords, browsing history, and payment details. Once they have this data, it can easily be used for identity theft, financial fraud, and even ransomware attacks.
Who Pays the Price of Illegal Sports Streaming
Saving a few bucks in the short-term may cost your beloved team and yourself much more than you bargained for.
The Sports Industry
Illegal streaming sites rob sports teams, broadcasters, and TV networks of billions of dollars of potential revenue.
Users & Sports Fans
A simple stream may seem harmless in the moment, but it could cost you much more than you bargained for. These highly sophisticated criminals can wreck your cybersecurity, steal your identity or credit card information, and more.
Related articles:
- Expert Series: Consequences of Pirate Services
- What’s the Legal Punishment for Engaging in Content Piracy?
Legitimate Markets
Illegal streaming websites and the use of streaming links rob billions of dollars from legal sports channels and sports broadcasts that would be made from ad revenue and viewership. That means legitimate service providers have to pick up the slack with increased costs to stay afloat.
What You Can Do to Fight Back Against Illegal Streaming
Now that you know the true and real dangers of illegally streaming live sporting events, you can take steps to protect yourself, your identity, and the sports teams you love by sharing this message with others and putting a stop to this streaming trend.
- Don’t click on illegal sports streaming websites, also known as “crackstreams” and links.
- Watch sports on legal sports channels and streaming services. Report piracy websites when you come across them. There are several outlets through which you can report illegal streaming activity.
- Use antivirus programs and ad blockers on your computer to protect your software and your identity. Be sure to follow best practices for cybersecurity.
- Avoid live streams of sporting events on unofficial channels, such as social media, Twitch, and more.
How StreamSafely Can Help You Find Legitimate Streaming Sources
Whether you’re planning on watching the Premier League, MLB, MMA, or the Super Bowl, it’s important to use legitimate, safe sources to support your favorite sports teams. At StreamSafely, we provide resources and information about the risks involved with accessing entertainment through illegal services. Check out our recommendations for the best ways to watch sports and tune in safely.
