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Coordinated Action Against Illegal Sites
On Sunday evening, as PSG clinched a victory over OM with a score of 3-1, the Audiovisual and Digital Communication Regulatory Authority (Arcom) executed a crackdown on Ligue 1 piracy. In collaboration with broadcasters DAZN and beIN Sports, and the Association for the Protection of Sports Programs, the agency blocked 171 domain names of illegal streaming and IPTV sites.
The operation took place in two phases: an initial wave of blocks 30 minutes before the game started, followed by a second wave 30 minutes after kickoff. The aim was to curb access to illegal streams when demand was at its peak.
A Decrease in Numbers Compared to the First Match
In the season’s first “Classique” back in October, 340 sites were blocked. The decrease observed in this rematch, according to Arcom, is a result of the regular efforts against piracy. The agency continues to increase its interventions, which they believe reduces the number of active illegal services.
However, it is still too early to assess the impact of these blocks on the viewership of the official broadcasters. According to Pauline Combredet-Blassel, Deputy Director General of Arcom, this data will only be available in several months through Médiamétrie. During the first match, a study commissioned by LFP Media estimated that 55% of viewers watched the game illegally.
Enhanced Tools but Questionable Effectiveness
To improve its responsiveness, Arcom has equipped itself with new tools, including the DAD software (Device-Update-Decision). This system enables quick identification of pirate sites and speeds up the process of blocking them. Since the start of the year, 1,293 domain names have been neutralized, almost as many as in the whole of 2023.
Despite these advancements, France still lags behind the models in England or Italy. In Italy, up to 18,000 sites can be blocked in a single weekend. In comparison, Arcom blocks about 5,000 sites annually. DAZN France frequently criticizes this pace, claiming that piracy adversely affects its subscriber count, which currently stands at around 500,000.
Piracy continues to be a significant challenge. Many users bypass blocks using VPNs, DNS changes, or platforms like Telegram, which remain out of Arcom’s reach. The authority continues its efforts but acknowledges that the phenomenon cannot be completely eradicated overnight.