The Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) said that the MOU represents a significant step in combatting online piracy in Indonesia and in protecting Indonesia’s creative and media industries, where total video industry revenues are expected to rise from US$2.5 billion in 2023 to reach US$3.7 billion by 2028, according to research by Media Partners Asia (MPA).
AVIA hosted more than 200 delegates at its Indonesia in View conference which took place side-by-side with its State of Piracy Summit in Jakarta at the end of August.
Representatives from Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (Kominfo) were also in attendance at the signing of the MOU, which followed a panel at the State of Piracy Summit hosted by AVIA and attended by representatives from Kominfo and AVISI, said AVIA.
Surveys released in May 2023 by AVIA, a leading anti-piracy advocacy organization in the region, showed that 54% of consumers in Indonesia access pirate services in 2023, the fourth highest incidence of piracy in the region.
Site blocking has been effective in Indonesia
The surveys also showed that countries implementing site blocking show significant successes. 62% of consumers in Indonesia indicated that they have changed their viewing habits as a result of pirate sites being blocked. In neighboring Malaysia, it was 64%. Both countries have long-running, effective and efficient regulatory blocking regimes.
AVIA’s surveys show that regular site blocking not only stops consumers accessing pirated content online, but also drives them towards legitimate sources, with an average of 20% of consumers subscribing to paid services and an average of over 40% accessing legitimate free content services as a result of pirate site blocking.
Lots of avenues to consumers, who know it’s bad for them
In addition to consumers accessing pirate content via pirate streaming sites, apps or illicit streaming devices (ISDs), social media and messaging platforms providing access to pirated content continue to be a concern as one of the main sources of accessing pirate content. CAP is working with the major platforms across the region to address this issue.
There also is growing awareness of the downsides of piracy with 94% of Indonesian consumers believing that online piracy has negative consequences, the highest percentage in the region, with damage to the creative industry being the biggest perceived negative impact.
Further reading
AVIA and AVISI combine forces with an MOU to fight against piracy and promote content in Indonesia. Press release. August 30, 2023. Asia Video Industry Association Coalition Against Piracy
Asia Pacific consumer surveys show benefits of effective site blocking: AVIA-CAP. Article. May 15, 2023. by Steven Hawley. Piracy Monitor.
Why it matters
AVIA has been a very effective advocate for media industry stakeholders, assisting its members toward influencing government policy against piarcy by countries in the South Asia region.
“Evidence continues to show that site blocking, when implemented in an efficient and effective way, is an incredibly powerful tool to both stop online piracy, and direct consumers towards legitimate content,” said Matt Cheetham, General Manager of AVIA’s Coalition Against Piracy (CAP).
Consistent with AVIA’s 2022 survey, the 2023 data points towards an ongoing consumption of pirate content via social media and messaging platforms. However, as Mr. Cheetham also noted, “The surveys also show the benefits of consumer education with a growing awareness amongst consumers of the negative consequences of piracy, particularly via illicit profiteering and malware.”
AVIA’s survey also shows huge unmet potential as more than 60% of consumers across the region said they would subscribe to legitimate services if there was no pirate content available on social media and messaging platforms.
