Piracy of audiovisual content has become a daily practice for thousands of Greeks, who believe they can enjoy subscription programs at minimal cost. However, illegal viewing of sports, movies, and series brings massive economic consequences for the entire country.
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Economic impact of piracy in Greece
According to a recent study by the Centre for Planning and Economic Research (KEPE) commissioned by the Audiovisual Works Protection Society (EPOE), cited by the newspaper “Ta Nea,” the total annual impact of audiovisual piracy in our country is estimated at over 400 million euros to Greek GDP. The damage caused by piracy translates into significant revenue losses for both businesses and the state. Total annual public revenue loss reaches 221 million euros, of which 59 million euros relates directly to taxes that will never be collected by state coffers.
The remaining 162 million euros corresponds to losses for the industry businesses themselves. Piracy doesn’t only affect economic figures but also human capital, as it’s estimated that up to 5,000 jobs are lost in the broader economy.
Scope of digital piracy phenomenon
It’s estimated that 800,000 Greek users utilize pirate television content services, with an estimated turnover exceeding 190 million euros annually. Most of these services are offered through Android TV or IPTV BOX devices. These devices circulate in the market ostensibly as “streaming devices,” but are often pre-configured for illegal content. Their operation is based on streaming from external servers, frequently using cryptocurrencies or other anonymous payment methods.
Distributors of illegal services operate professionally: they offer packages, discounts, customer service, and technical support in the shadow economy’s darkness. Users pay an average of 20 euros per month, an amount significantly lower than legal subscriptions.
Greece leads Europe in youth piracy
One of the study’s most concerning findings is that Greece ranks first in Europe for pirated content usage among young users. According to analysis by the European Union Intellectual Property Office, 60% of young people aged 16 to 24 watch content from illegal sources. This is attributed to both low digital literacy and relative social tolerance around the piracy phenomenon. This situation creates serious concerns for the future of the legal audiovisual content market.
Legal framework and enforcement challenges
Although the Greek legal framework has made progress in recent years to combat piracy, significant weaknesses remain. Banking and telecommunications secrecy complicates the detection of piracy networks.
Meanwhile, the tax burden on legal providers with the special 10% subscription television tax serves as a disincentive for maintaining competitive prices. This specific tax, introduced during the Memorandum years, continues to disproportionately burden legal content providers.
Impact on cultural industry
The collateral losses from piracy must also include the operation of the cultural industry itself. When content creation isn’t rewarded, producers have fewer incentives to invest in new ideas and works. Innovation freezes, jobs in the cultural production sector decrease, and ultimately consumers face poorer choices. Additionally, users of pirate services are exposed to privacy risks, malware, and low-quality user experience.
Proposals for combating piracy
For effective piracy combat, KEPE proposes specific measures:
- Legal reform of the prosecution authorities’ framework to strengthen access capabilities to violator data
- Greece’s participation in European programs for detecting and combating piracy
- Conducting public awareness campaigns about piracy’s criminal consequences
- Integrating the topic into the educational system
- Strengthening legal content offerings with tax incentives
A decisive step toward implementing the legal framework is considered the issuance of the relevant Joint Ministerial Decision, which will activate the penalty imposition procedure and is expected soon.