More than of a third of football fans are pirates

More than a third of Premier League football fans say they regularly watch matches live online via unofficial streams, according to a recent BBC survey. The poll suggests younger adults are most likely to say they stream matches via unauthorised providers. Nearly a quarter of all fans surveyed regularly watch matches online via special technology, such as Kodi boxes.

In March, a High Court judge granted an order for the UK’s four biggest internet service providers to block access to online servers with football streams, making it harder for pirates to switch streams when they are shut down.

Last season saw the biggest drop in live Premier League TV viewing figures for seven years, hitting both Sky and BT. Sky saw a 14% drop, while viewing of BT channels dropped by 2%.

Sky is scrapping its numbered sports channels and replacing them with themed offerings focused on specific sports – led by football, golf and cricket – as it combats falling viewer numbers with a branding revamp and a cheaper viewing package.

The retirement of Sky Sports 1,2,3,4 and 5 and the introduction of a new package two-thirds cheaper than current prices represents a major shakeup of the strategy of Rupert Murdoch’s Sky a pay-TV powerhouse.

The new offering will result in the launch of themed channels, like Sky’s existing dedicated Formula One channel, for its top-flight sports including football – which will get two channels – golf and cricket. A new channel, Sky Sports Arena, will host other content including rugby and tennis.

A key part of the strategy is that it will let Sky entice new pay-TV subscribers reluctant to fork out up to £49.50 for its cheapest sports package. The new strategy will allow Sky to charge £18 for its cheapest package – although the whole Sky Sports bundle will remain a costly option.
In reality, the Premier League and Sky are fighting a losing battle with the illegal streamers which will only end one way.

The music industry took on the pirates and lost. Out of it came legal Itunes and Spotify. The film industry too tried to stop the pirates and out of the battle came Netflix and Amazon. The Premier League and clubs will soon have to accept that a legal way needs to found to stream all Premier League games to supporters in the UK and worldwide.

In the future, Premier League club themselves may sell their TV rights direct to supporters on legal streaming platforms either in a pay per view model or a season ticket for all games home and away.