The French communications authority ARCOM announced the results of its efforts to reduce access to the illicit consumption of sports content and what happens when would-be consumers of illegal content are confronted with the blocking measures implemented by the authority since 2022.
Agency researchers found that 62% of French residents watched live sports broadcasts in the year, about the same as in 2023. Overall, 18% of French residents watch sports content illegally based on two overlapping access methods: 16% of French people use live streaming sites, while 12% access content illegally via IPTV (illegal multichannel services using illicit streaming boxes, keys, or directly with software). 41% of these IPTV users had been doing so for less than one year.
By far, football (soccer) was the most popular sport watched via illegal sources by French sports consumers.Interestingly, 60% of illegal viewers also subscribe to legitimate paid services.
32% of illegal streaming consumers experienced a block by Arcom, which was up by 5% over 2023: 3,797 blocks were carried out in 2024 compared to 1,544 the previous year.
What consumers did when blocked
46% of French people who faced with a block gave up at illicit viewing, either by simply abandoning it (26%), subscribing to a legal offer (10%), or borrowing the codes from a friend or relative (9%). This positive result is stable compared to 2023 (47%, -1 point).
The proportion of Internet users who persevered in the face of a block is also stable compared to 2023: 32% went to another illicit site and
10% subscribed to an infringing IPTV offer.
48% of blocked internet users were blocked for searching for illegal retransmissions of football, ahead of tennis (17% of those blocked), rugby, and basketball (16% each).
Blocking is increasing in 2025
From the beginning of 2022 and as of the end of April 2025, 8,505 domain names were blocked by ISPs upon notification by ARCOM. During that period, the total number of blockages exceeded 10,000, as measured by initial decisions and notifications by ARCOM.
Key figures were listed in the following table
Methodology
ARCOM’s quantitative online study was conducted by the CSA Institute with a sample of 2,003 individuals representative of the French population aged 15 and over, surveyed online from September 9 to 30, 2024 (representativeness ensured by the profile from the scoping phase), supplemented by an oversample of 303 illicit consumers of sports broadcasts (on streaming sites or via an app or IPTV box).
Site blocking model as defined by ARCOM
In January 2023, ARCOM published an anti-piracy model for use between rights-holders and Internet service providers, under Article L. 333-10, I, of the French Sports Code, to implement procedures and systems to ensure effective blocking and prevent access to illegal services.
If a rights-holder observes repeated infringement, the rights-holder would notify ARCOM, which would verify that the traffic is infringing, and then notify the ISP to block the traffic. If infringement becomes ongoing, the rights-holder may request a blocking from a court. If granted, blocking is temporary and would occur over a specified period of time.
The model calls on ISPs to implement systems to securely receive standardized blocking requests made by ARCOM and for rights-holders and ISPs to develop means to exchange information, designate contacts in the event of legal proceedings, and to bear those costs internally.
Could technology itself be mandated?
Significantly, a special provision of ARCOM’s anti-piracy model calls for implemention of “relevant, proportionate, and effective blocking technologies to prevent access to illegal online public communication services, guaranteeing the protection of Rights Holders’ rights, the quality and integrity of electronic communications networks, and the legal security of the Signatory Parties, in accordance with the conditions set out in the specific provisions.”
The special provision goes on the define a framework for sharing the costs of initial investments and operating costs. The proportions of cost sharing are left blank in the Sports Code, as are the nature of the technologies themselves.
Further reading
Illicit consumption of sports programs in 2024 – Detailed results. Press release. May 14, 2025. ARCOM.
The Fight against piracy of sports broadcasts. Landing page. Accessed May 15, 2025. ARCOM.
Model agreement adopted pursuant to IV of Article L. 333-10 of the Sports Code. Regulatory framework. Adopted January 2023. ARCOM
Why it matters
Since 2023, ARCOM has operated a barometer to monitor the consumption of sports programming aiming to assess the changing demand for sports in audiovisual and digital media. This barometer sheds light on the Authority’s various missions related to the broadcasting and protection of sports content.
This edition takes place against a backdrop of very rich sports news throughout 2024: exceptional sporting events (Olympic and Paralympic Games, Euro 2020, etc.) and changes in the broadcast offering of Ligue 1 men’s football, the largest sporting competition in France.
The report devotes a section to the illicit consumption of sports content and includes a focus on how illicit consumers react when confronted with blocking measures.
