The use of illegal IPTV services is on the rise, threatening the production of top-tier Danish football, films, and television. Together with Superligaen A/S, The Rights Alliance now aims to have the most popular IPTV services blocked in Denmark.
Through subscriptions to illegal IPTV services, many Danes access broadcasts of Danish and international football matches and other live sports, as well as Danish and foreign films and series on a daily basis. This results in criminals reaping the benefits of the resources invested by producers and other contributors in creating the content. Now, The Rights Alliance aims to put an end to this unfair development by blocking access to the 10 most popular illegal IPTV services in Denmark. This will be done by submitting a request to the courts, seeking to have the services declared illegal and to compel Danish telecom providers to block access to them.
The blocking case has been filed on behalf of the Divisionsforeningen and Superligaen A/S, both members of The Rights Alliance and responsible for the production of football broadcasts in the Danish 3F Superliga.
Claus Thomsen, CEO of Divisionsforeningen, says:
The use of illegal IPTV services affects all the football fans who play fair, making it more expensive for them to access the matches and clubs they love to watch. In the long run, illegal IPTV helps undermine the media agreements that form the very foundation allowing clubs in Denmark to deliver great football and unforgettable experiences.
Illegal IPTV poses a serious threat to live sports, film, and television
Illegal IPTV is not a new phenomenon, but it has gained increasing traction in recent years. A newly published study from MediaVision shows that 360,000 Danish households – equivalent to 14% – subscribe to an illegal IPTV service. This marks a 9% increase since 2022, when only 5% of Danish households subscribed to such services.
Illegal IPTV is critical to combat because users who subscribe to these services are given illegal access to a vast catalogue of content – with live content being particularly popular. This has serious consequences for many rights holders, as the widespread availability undermines the incentive to pay for legal access. As a result, illegal IPTV services present a challenge that rights holders across the live sports, film, and television industries are working together to fight.
Lars Bo Jeppesen, EVP Viaplay Group & CEO of Viaplay Denmark, says:
Illegal IPTV undermines the entire ecosystem surrounding the production and distribution of quality content – from sports rights to films and series. Pirate services are run by deeply criminal operators who, through international networks and local resellers, sell stolen content for profit. When 360,000 Danish households act as private pirates by using these illegal services, it’s not just a financial loss – it’s a direct attack on the investments and creativity that drive our industry. In addition, the systematic tax evasion by these operations means that society increasingly misses out on significant tax revenue. That’s why it is crucial that we work together to put an end to the organized crime behind these services and ensure better protection of content.
Stronger protection of live sports is needed
Our blocking case is only the first step toward effective protection and enforcement of rights to entertainment content in the face of challenges from illegal IPTV services. In Denmark, telecom providers respond quickly and effectively to illegal services when ordered to act by the courts. However, many other players – such as CDNs, hosting providers, and VPN services – should do much more to limit the illegal distribution of time-sensitive content like live sports. That is why The Rights Alliance has just submitted our recommendations to the European Commission’s consultation on proposals to combat the illegal distribution of sports and other live events.
Read the Rights Alliance’s recommendations to the European Commission here