Film companies are losing £170 million (€189 million) to illegal movie downloads in the UK, research by consultancy Envisional shows.
The number of illegal film downloads has increased from just over one million per year in 2006 to 1.4 million in 2010, placing films top of the list of illicit downloads ahead of TV shows on 1.2 million, the firm’s report – seen by the BBC – shows.
Envisional, which counts the top five titles in films, TV shows, games, software and music albums in its research, claims piracy is now easier due to faster broadband speeds. It also notes that user’s attitudes towards piracy have changed, with a generation of new users being unconcerned about the legality of their actions.
Lead researcher David Price notes high demand for US TV shows in the UK is one of the main reasons for piracy in the country. He advised TV companies to compete head on by launching content online promptly after its initial broadcast.