The ₹22,400 cr leak: How piracy drains film industry

Despite the rise of legitimate streaming platforms, piracy continues to bleed India's entertainment industry, with film and OTT content suffering the biggest blows.

- Lata Jha

NEW DELHI:

While music piracy has been largely curtailed due to free, ad-supported streaming, video piracy remains rampant, costing the industry a staggering ₹22,400 crore annually, as per a report released by EY and the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI).

Of this, ₹13,700 crore in losses stem from pirated movie theatre content, while ₹8,700 crore is attributed to illegally accessed OTT content. Streaming remains the primary source of pirated content, accounting for 63% of the total, followed by mobile apps at 16%, with social media and torrent platforms contributing another 21%.

Entertainment industry experts say video piracy persists because filmmakers, TV producers, and streaming platforms are yet to establish a pricing model that works across income groups. Additionally, the fragmented availability of films and shows across multiple platforms makes legitimate access inconvenient, pushing audiences toward piracy.