Piracy is back in a big way and streamers only have themselves to blame

Over the past few years, I think it’s fair to say that streaming TV shows and movies has gotten worse. Consider 2015. Back then, there were only a handful of streaming services, like Netflix and Hulu, and it was pretty easy to find what you wanted to watch, and it was relatively affordable. Fast-forward to today, and almost every entertainment company has its own streaming service, with content spread across multiple platforms, and the monthly cost has skyrocketed.

Want to watch the new season of Fallout later this year? You’ll need to go to Prime Video. Want to watch The Bear? You’ll need Hulu. Stranger Things? Netflix. The Last of Us? HBO Max. Severance? Apple TV+. With so many different shows and streaming services, the monthly costs can add up quickly if you want to watch them all. So, it was no surprise when I recently read in The Guardian that piracy was on the rise again.

According to a London-based data company called MUSO, which monitors global piracy — including streaming and web downloads — in 2024, there were 216 billion visits to piracy websites. This represents a sharp increase from 2020, when it recorded only 130 billion. In Sweden, a study found that 25 percent of people reported pirating something in 2024, with the 15-24 age group leading the way.

Why are people flocking to piracy again?

Streaming is more complicated, but piracy remains easy

I think the main reason people are flocking to piracy again is that, first and foremost, streaming is becoming increasingly expensive and more ad-ridden. Streaming used to be about convenience and affordability, but now it’s hard to find that anywhere. Just look at the cost of Netflix. In 2015, Netflix’s Premium subscription, which supported 4K streaming and up to four screens simultaneously, cost $12 per month. A decade later, that same plan with similar benefits is now $25 a month.

While streamers are offering cheaper plans, they now come with ads. Netflix’s Standard with Ads plan is its most affordable option, costing $8 per month. And now that Netflix has done it, many streaming services have followed suit, like Disney+, which now offers its own ad plan, and HBO Max. A decade ago, streaming was simply cheaper and ad-free. However, that is no longer the case, which I think directly leads people to pirate things they can’t afford, no longer find convenient, or don’t want to see riddled with ads.

YouTube TV is another great example. It launched in 2017 as an affordable and convenient way for cord-cutters to watch TV for $35 per month. 8 years later, in 2025, the service is now $83 a month, and a lot less appealing to cord-cutters on a budget.

People are willing to pay for a service they value, but if they don’t get what they expect or see the worth in it, they’ll look for cheaper options or resort to piracy. What makes piracy particularly easy for many, especially younger generations, is that it isn’t complicated. A few quick Google searches are enough to discover where to go, what to do, and VPN services make the process safer. However, I believe there’s more to it than just people growing tired of price increases, ads, and content scattered everywhere. I think it also relates to how shows are released these days.

The gap between seasons for shows is becoming longer

Major shows releasing annually are a thing of the past

Apple

Another reason I think people are turning to piracy more is the lengthy wait for new seasons of shows. I recall when popular shows would release 10 or 20 episodes annually, but that’s no longer the case for many series. Take Smallville, for instance. Can you imagine a show like that airing today? I couldn’t.

I understand there are many factors involved in production, but for some viewers paying a monthly fee for a streaming service, waiting years for a new season of their favorite show can be enough to cancel the subscription and turn to piracy, especially when those seasons seem to be getting shorter, with some shows now having only 7 or 8 episodes instead of 10 or more.

I often think back to Game of Thrones, which aired 10 episodes every year from 2011 to 2017 (excluding Season 8 in 2019). Now, consider House of the Dragon, which has released two seasons with a two-year gap, and a third season coming in 2026 that will also have a two-year gap.

The only show I can think of recently that has released new seasons each year is The Bear. Other than that, I find it hard to name a major show that has aired every year. Severance first premiered in 2022, and its second season came out in 2025. Stranger Things released its fourth season in 2022, and its fifth season is scheduled for late 2025. I understand that major shows involve many complexities, including writing, directing, casting, scheduling, visual effects, and more. However, I think that for some people, the long wait makes them less likely to watch shows legally and more likely to turn to piracy.

Given the higher streaming costs, less convenience, and shows with less frequent and sometimes shorter seasons, it seems to me that this will drive more people toward piracy. If streamers want to cut down on piracy, they need to find ways to make their services more attractive and affordable again. That will be a tough challenge, especially since many streaming options exist now, and content is everywhere. For the sake of the industry, and for all the people who work hard on making these shows and movies, I hope streaming services are able to overcome this.