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The original was posted on /r/soccer by /u/Sparky-moon on 2026-01-14 12:08:43+00:00.
The majority of Britons keen on sport believe it is now socially acceptable to use pirate streaming services, according to an authoritative report.
Findings in the Sport Industry Report 2026, a comprehensive snapshot of the UK industry, will concern authorities fighting the rise in illegal streaming.
Despite threats of jail terms, research by the Intellectual Property Office estimated almost four million people in the UK had used an illegal source to watch live sport in 2023. A wide-ranging twin survey of fans and sports professionals conducted by Nielsen Sports suggests broadcaster rip-off services like hacked “Fires Sticks” remain prevalent.
The research says 58 per cent of fans and 66 per cent of professionals “say it is now socially acceptable to use pirate streaming services”. In a temperature check on the commercial future of UK sport, the research also shows 2025 saw $4bn investment into the sector.
Other findings include:
“Affordability” is now the number one concern for fans across every age group, with 67 per cent believing attending live sport will be a luxury within the next five years.
56 per cent of fans and 70 per cent of professionals view climate change as an existential threat to sport.
80 per cent of fans and 92 per cent of professionals support social media restrictions for under-16s.
73 per cent of fans would support another London Olympic bid.
The data also reveals “growing tension between commercial growth and social responsibility”, the report says.
Across every demographic, “affordability emerged as the single biggest issue facing sport’s future”. Nick Keller, chairman of Sport Industry Group, said: “Today’s research captures a defining contradiction for sport. The industry is confident, yet it is operating in one of the most unstable global environments for generations. Climate disruption, geopolitical tension, AI-driven change, mental-health pressures and social fragmentation are no longer peripheral – they are reshaping how sport operates, competes and grows.
“This report reflects that tension: optimism about sport’s future, paired with a clear understanding that the next phase of growth will demand more intentional choices than the last.”
A sample of 1,002 members of the public who are either “interested” or “very interested” in sport were polled. A total of 264 sports professionals who are either “interested” or “very interested” in sport were also questioned.