The total annual impact on the country's GDP from audiovisual piracy is estimated at over €400 million, according to a study by the Center for Planning and Economic Research (KEPE) on behalf of the Society for the Protection of Audiovisual Works (EPOE).
The study, based on the elaboration of alternative scenarios, estimates that the jobs lost each year exceed even 5.000 (total economy). Tax losses from pay-TV (VAT, special fee 10%) are estimated at up to €59 million per year , while losses for the domestic legal market amount to up to €162 million per year.
One of the most critical findings of the study is the negative impact of the special 10% fee imposed on Greek subscription platforms. This measure, according to KEPE, reinforces the phenomenon of piracy , as it increases the cost of legal domestic services, making them less competitive both in relation to international platforms that do not incur a corresponding fee, and to pirated packages.
The study documents the existence of a broad economic circuit, with approximately 800.000 illegal connections and an estimated turnover of over €190 million per year . According to data from the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), cited by KEPE, Greece is among the countries with the highest rates of use of illegal audiovisual content in Europe , with 60% of young people aged 16–24 watching content from illegal sources.
The lack of information and education is highlighted by the study as a key factor in the extent of the phenomenon, with users exposed to serious risks , such as malware and loss of personal data.
As we mentioned in a previous post , it seems funny because companies present this money as lost profits, a case that could not stand if piracy did not exist.
Which of these mathematicians knows whether the audience that uses pirate channels could have been a subscriber with a basic salary?
When Cosmote and Nova charge 40-50 euros per month for unlimited mobile connections, isn't there a profit margin? If you currently have a package with this price and try to change provider, the price may automatically drop by half, or even less than half.
We say no to piracy but at the same time we should think about whether these companies operate legitimately or illegally, with a legal cover that does support free trade, but with the luxury of having 2-3 big providers who set prices as they see fit.
George is still wondering what he is doing here….
