UK households are abandoning traditional broadcasting as 300,000 cancelled their BBC TV Licence last year amid soaring streaming costs. The exodus reflects growing financial pressure on families already struggling with rising living costs.
The average European household now spends close to £600 annually on three or more video-on-demand subscriptions. This surge in streaming expenses comes as the BBC licence fee itself rose to £174.50 last April, adding to household budget pressures.
Amid rising subscription costs and diminishing choice on legal sites, film and TV fans are increasingly turning to VPNs and illicit streamers. Critics have slammed the "enshittification" of streaming platforms, accusing them of degrading their services in the pursuit of profit.
Global piracy reaches record levels
The streaming cost crisis has coincided with an explosive return to digital piracy worldwide. Global piracy incidents surged to 216 billion in 2024, with unlicensed streaming accounting for 96 per cent of all TV and film piracy.
TV piracy dominates illegal content consumption with 96.8 billion visits globally. Film piracy declined by 18 per cent to 24.3 billion visits, possibly due to production delays and increased legal streaming availability.
UK households embrace illegal alternatives
The UK recorded 5.8 billion piracy site visits, representing three per cent of the global total. One critic told The Guardian: "I never stopped pirating, and my partner also does it if he doesn't find the precise edition he is looking for on DVD."
Another viewer explained their approach: "Downloading is too difficult. I don't know where to start. The shady streams might bombard me with ads, but at least I don't have to worry about getting hacked or caught."
According to The Guardian, 25 per cent of Sweden's population admitted to pirating content in 2024, driven primarily by 15-24 year-olds. This international trend reflects broader frustration with platform fragmentation and declining service quality.
Service quality versus pricing debate
Industry observers reference gaming executive Gabe Newell's principle that "piracy is not a pricing issue, it's a service issue," as reported by The Guardian. Users increasingly turn to illegal alternatives when legal options become fragmented or expensive.
The BBC acknowledged the licence fee challenge earlier this summer. The corporation said it was examining payment overhauls to secure its future "for the long term."
Sources used: "Birmingham Mail", "The Guardian" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
