45% of Thai consumers use pirated TV boxes, survey finds
BANGKOK, Nov 14, 2018 - (ACN Newswire) - In a recent study of the content viewing behaviour of Thai consumers, it was
revealed that 45% of consumers use a TV box which can be used to stream pirated television and video content. These TV
boxes, also known as Illicit Streaming Devices (ISDs), allow users to access hundreds of pirated television channels and
video-on-demand content, usually with a low annual fee. TV boxes often come pre-loaded with pirated applications
allowing 'plug-and-play' access to pirated content. The survey found that Mango TV, HD Playbox and U Play are among the
most popular pirate applications amongst Thai consumers.
The survey, commissioned by the Asia Video Industry Association's (AVIA) Coalition Against Piracy (CAP), and conducted
by YouGov, also highlights the detrimental effects of streaming piracy on legitimate subscription video services. Of the
45% of consumers who purchased a TV box or dongle for free streaming, more than two in three (69%) stated that they
cancelled all or some of their subscription to legal pay TV services. Specifically, 24% asserted that they cancelled
their subscriptions to a Thai-based online video service as a direct consequence of owning an ISD. International
subscription services, which include pan-Asia online offerings, were impacted the most - nearly one in three (30%) Thai
users have abandoned subscriptions in favour of ISD purchases.
Cancelling legitimate subscription services and paying less for access to pirated content is fraught with risks, as Neil
Gane, the General Manager of AVIA's Coalition Against Piracy (CAP), comments, "The damage that piracy does to the
creative industries is without dispute. However, the damage done to consumers themselves, because of the nexus between
content piracy and malware, is only beginning to be recognised. Piracy websites and applications typically have a "click
happy" user base, and, as such, are being used more and more as clickbait to distribute malware. Unfortunately the
appetite for "free" or cheap subscription pirated content blinkers users from the very real risks of malware infection".
Of those consumers who own an ISD, about half of respondents (47%) claim to have purchased their ISD from two of the
largest Southeast Asia-based ecommerce stores. Close to one-third (31%) of ISD owners say they acquired their devices
via one of the world's most popular social media platforms.
In addition to the short-term problem of cancelled subscriptions is a longer term problem - namely, many of the people
using ISDs are young. The survey found that ISDs are particularly favoured among 18-24 year-olds, with more than three
in four (77%) cancelling legitimate subscription services as a result of owning ISDs, especially international online
subscriptions (40%).
The Department of Intellectual Property (DIP), Ministry of Commerce, who oversees the Copyright Act, commented that "to
enhance the efficiency of enforcement action, the DIP has proposed the amendment of the Copyright Act by adding
provisions on the manufacture, sale, import, or traffic into the country of devices or any parts or components of a
device, for the purpose of circumventing a technological measure. These amendments were approved by the Cabinet on 16
October 2018 and will shortly be presented to the State Council. The amendments are explicitly targeted at the
manufacture and distribution of pirated TV boxes. This is a crucial step to address the current piracy problem".
"This high rate of piracy is concerning for a number of reasons", says Sompan Charumilinda, Executive Vice Chairman at
True Visions. "First is the danger to consumers through the use of malware and spyware embedded in these illicit sites
and applications. Second is that supporting these criminal enterprises does real damage to legitimate businesses that
are struggling to survive. Third, it also undermines the Thailand 4.0 initiative and the country's aspiration to become
counted among the world leaders in the new digital economy by showing Thailand to have made little progress in terms of
its acceptance and tacit approval of these criminal networks. Consumers should care about piracy personally because of
the harmful effects of malware and spyware, and also because of the damage that it does to our country. As a leading
media company in Thailand we are happy to work with the Department of Intellectual Property, CAP and all relevant
stakeholders to help continue to educate the public about these dangers."
AVIA's Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) includes leading video content creators and distributors in Asia. Members include:
beIN Sports, Discovery, The Walt Disney Company, FOX Networks Group, HBO Asia, NBCUniversal, Netflix, Premier League,
Turner Asia-Pacific, A Networks, Astro, BBC Worldwide, CANAL+, Cignal, La Liga, Media Partners Asia, National Basketball Association, PCCW
Media, Singtel, Sony Pictures Television Networks Asia, TVB, True Visions, TV5MONDE, and Viacom International Media
Networks.
About the Asia Video Industry Association
The Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) is the trade association for the video industry and ecosystem in Asia
Pacific. It serves to make the video industry stronger and healthier through promoting the common interests of its
members. AVIA is the interlocutor for the industry with governments across the region, leads the fight against video
piracy and provides insight into the video industry through reports and conferences aimed to support a vibrant video
industry. AVIA evolved from Casbaa in 2018.