Skip to main content

Fragmented streaming market could lead to more illegal downloads

New research from Broadband Genie has revealed that the number of streaming TV viewers using illegal sources to watch movies and shows could double as consumers become increasingly frustrated with the growing number of subscription services.

The firm surveyed UK streaming users to find that almost a fifth (18%) admitted to accessing TV shows and movies using unauthorized streaming or file sharing sites. However, that number could increase to 37 percent if the market continues to fragment into different services.

The streaming video market has become highly competitive as new players such as Apple and Disney prepare to release their own streaming services this November. Netflix remains the most popular streaming service for the time being but its subscriber count could take a big hit as it loses popular shows and movies to its rivals.

If consumers wish to continue watching their favorite content as well as the latest hits, they face having to sign up for a growing number of subscription services. However, Broadband Genie's survey found that over two thirds (67%) of consumers already fell like they're paying too much.

Streaming services

The survey found that most people currently pay up to £15 a month for streaming services but they would rather prefer to spend a maximum of £10.

Respondents said that the biggest issue with streaming is cost but they also expressed frustration with finding where to watch particular shows or movies and with the need to use different apps.

One possible solution for cutting streaming costs is to illegally access content and the majority (60%) of respondents considering this option said they would invest the money they saved into a VPN subscription. A VPN would allow them to hide their identity and watch content from different regions usually at a monthly price cheaper than most streaming services.

Ernesto van der Sar from TorrentFreak explained why consumers are turning to piracy when it comes to streaming, saying:

“As more legal services have exclusive releases, it’s harder for people to get everything they want from one place. Instead of signing up for paid subscriptions at a handful of services, which may go beyond one's budget, some then turn back to piracy. These people still pay for legal services, but they use pirate services to watch movies and TV-shows that are otherwise only available at services they don't have access to.”



from TechRadar - All the latest technology news https://ift.tt/2lPGyef

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Mother's Day 2020 gift ideas: 18 gadgets and gizmos for tech-savvy Aussie mums

Raising a family is not an easy job, and the women who care for us each and every day deserve to be told how special they are each and every day. While we tend to forget to do that, Mother’s Day reminds us we need to celebrate the women in our lives, whether they’re our own mothers or our wives and partners helping us raise the young ones. Mother’s Day 2020 is fast approaching (with under two weeks to go), and there’s a pretty good chance you won’t be able to take her out to her favourite restaurant this year, or even get to a store to shop for something she might like. So we have to get creative, and TechRadar’s Australian team has put together this little list of great tech gift ideas that you can buy online and have delivered in time for May 10. But you will need to get a wriggle on as delivery supply chains are under strain with more people shopping online. Whether she’s a whiz in the kitchen, loves to cosy up with a book or entertain at home, we’ve got a gadget or gizmo that’s s

Amazon Australia has specials on Bose products all this week

December may have just begun, but the world's largest online marketplace is already feeling the Christmas spirit.  To kick off the month’s festivities, Amazon Australia is celebrating  ‘7 Days of Deals’ with Bose's superb audio hardware discounted each day. To begin with, the very popular (and rightly so) Bose QuietComfort 35 II and the more expensive Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones 700 are available for less. To sweeten the deal, Amazon will throw in an Echo speaker as a bonus as well. When you purchase the superb Bose Headphones 700, you will receive a free Amazon Echo Show 5, or if you’d prefer the Bose QuietComfort 35 II, you’ll receive a complimentary Echo Dot. The offer is valid until December 8, or while stocks last. You can buy the same bundles, for the same price if you make the purchase via the Echo Dot or the Echo Show 5 product pages on Amazon. Just make sure you select the bundled headphone in the 'add other items' section on the right. Best noi

The best bank holiday sales and deals at Amazon, John Lewis, Currys, Boohoo, Argos and more

It's the final day of the August bank holiday sales and we've just updated our selection of the best deals you can get today. So if you want a super cheap Fitbit, a new pair of headphones, a waterproof ereader or maybe you're going to finally get a better broadband deal or a new smartphone there's lot to choose from today. So sit back and check out our picks which include TVs, laptops, consoles, fashion brands, furniture and smart home gadgets too. Digging out discounts is what we do, not just every bank holiday or Black Friday , but every day of the week, so you know we'll steer you to the best ones. To stay tuned on all our regular deal updates, bookmark our deals page or follow us over on Twitter . Bank holiday sales: quick links Amazon : currently running an end-of-summer sale. John Lewis : save up to 50% on multiple categories. Dell: fantastic discounts on a range of laptops and PCs AO : going big on cheap TVs, laptops, household appliance and ele