Observed Signal · May 28, 2026 · Study Publication · Source: Manager Magazin · Impact: 3/5 · Sentiment: Negative
Illegal TV Streaming Causes €2.4B Economic Damage
A study published by the Verband Privater Medien (Vaunet) finds that illegal live‑TV streaming in Germany rose sharply and caused an estimated €2.4 billion macroeconomic damage in the past year (reported for 2025). The report says around 7.7 million people used illegal TV streams in 2025, with the largest share among 16–33 year‑olds. Vaunet estimates €542 million in lost taxes and social contributions and about €1.5 billion of direct economic damage to media companies. The total figure represents roughly a one‑third increase compared with the 2022 survey. Vaunet Managing Director Frank Giersberg called for stronger enforcement, faster removal of illegal content by platforms and hosting providers, and obligations for internet providers to block illegal livestreams during transmission. The article was published on 2026-05-28.
Significant revenue and tax losses affect publishers, ad inventory monetization and enforcement needs across broadcast/streaming ecosystems; policy and platform responses could influence content moderation and network blocking practices.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Verband Privater Medien (Vaunet) study reports ~€2.4 billion total economic damage from illegal live‑TV streaming (reporting year: 2025).
- Approximately 7.7 million people in Germany used illegal TV streams in 2025, concentrated most strongly among 16–33 year‑olds.
- State lost an estimated €542 million in taxes and social contributions due to illegal streaming.
- Direct economic damage to affected media companies is estimated at about €1.5 billion.
- Vaunet called for stronger measures: faster removal by platforms/hosting providers and obligations on internet providers to block illegal livestreams during transmission.
Connected Companies & Entities
2 Entities mappedRelated Market Signals & Shifts
Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
Seven.One Media launches AdManager for SMEs in Germany
Seven.One Media, the advertising arm of ProSiebenSat.1, has launched 'AdManager', a self-service tool enabling small and mid-sized companies to plan and execute addressable TV campaigns on connected TVs. The tool, already used by MFE clients in Italy and Spain, lowers the entry barrier to TV advertising for smaller businesses. Advertisers can book L-shaped SwitchIn formats and target audiences using various criteria, with regional targeting options. A real-time dashboard allows campaign performance tracking and optimization. The launch is supported by a promotional campaign across ProSiebenSat.1 channels and digital platforms. Nicola Lussana, Seven.One Media CEO, emphasized the Mittelstand's importance as a growth engine and the tool's role in democratizing access to Big Screen advertising.
The Voice Hits Streaming Record, Babylon Berlin Strong
The AGF's program brand measurement data for calendar week 39 (September 21-27, 2026) shows that 'The Voice of Germany' reached a new streaming record of 511,000 unique viewers on Joyn, crossing the half-million mark for the first time since the metric was introduced in 2024. It was the strongest Joyn brand of the week. Meanwhile, ARD's 'Sportschau' led the overall streaming ranking with 1.767 million viewers, helped by the German national football team's match against Greece, closely followed by 'Babylon Berlin' with 1.75 million, which remained the most-watched fiction title. RTL's 'Oktagon MMA' also posted a streaming best outside the top 20. The data covers streaming on the providers' own platforms, excluding YouTube and social networks, and represents net reach, not average viewership.
Prime Video Smashes Champions League Streaming Record
In September 2026, Amazon's Prime Video dominated German streaming, with AGF measuring sports for the first time. The Champions League match between Borussia Dortmund and Villarreal topped the rankings with 4.605 million views, the highest for any single program. Prime Video secured eight of the top eleven positions, including the series "Reacher" and its spin-off "Neagley." Competitors lagged: RTL's "Das Sommerhaus der Stars" led non-Prime content with 2.698 million views, while ARD's Germany-Greece match drew over 2 million, and DAZN's Elversberg-Bayern game recorded nearly 1.7 million. ZDF's election coverage reached 1.702 million. The AGF Census+ methodology counts video starts, not unique viewers, and excludes platforms like YouTube and Facebook.
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