Illegal streaming in Switzerland: An estimated 634,000 people use unauthorised IPTV services
A new study commissioned by the Audiovisual Anti-Piracy Alliance (AAPA) shows that around 634,000 people in Switzerland use illegal streaming services, with significant consequences for consumers, clubs, leagues, broadcasters, rights holders and media companies.
Illegal streaming has become a significant phenomenon in Switzerland. According to a new study commissioned by the Audiovisual Anti-Piracy Alliance (AAPA), an estimated 634,000 people in Switzerland use illegal IPTV services. This represents 9.4% of the Swiss population aged 16 to 74 and is slightly above the European average of 8.9%.
Illegal streaming services can expose consumers to fraud, phishing, malware and the misuse of personal data. AAPA research has highlighted the cyber risks associated with audiovisual piracy. Illegal streaming activities are also often linked to organised crime, including fraud and money laundering. StreamSafe aims to raise awareness of these risks and encourage consumers of all ages to choose safe and legal services when enjoying their favourite sports and entertainment content.
Young people are particularly at risk
The figures for younger people are particularly striking. An estimated 153,000 people in Switzerland aged 16 to 24 use unauthorised IPTV services. This represents around 18.5% of this age group, almost twice the Swiss average of 9.4%.
Young people can be particularly attractive to providers of illegal streaming services: they are highly connected digitally, easy to reach through online and social media channels, and often have only a limited budget. This combination can make them especially susceptible to offers that appear attractive because they promise inexpensive or even free access to content.
This apparent advantage overshadows the real risks. Young users may give little thought to who is behind an illegal streaming service, where their personal data goes, or what may happen to passwords, payment information and other private data once they submit it to an unknown provider.
Economic impact
The economic impact is significant. Legitimate commercial providers of audiovisual content and pay TV in Switzerland lose an estimated EUR 75.8 million in potential annual revenue because of illegal streaming services.
Illegal streaming is also a growing problem in Europe
Switzerland is part of a much broader European trend. The number of people using illegal IPTV services in the EU, the United Kingdom and Switzerland rose from around 13.7 million in 2018 to 34.4 million in 2025, an increase of 151%. Compared with 2021, the figure has more than doubled.
At the same time, illegal streaming has become an extremely lucrative business for criminal providers. Revenue from illegal IPTV services in Europe reached around EUR 2.6 billion in 2025. Legitimate pay-TV providers simultaneously suffered estimated revenue losses of EUR 5.84 billion.
Study methodology
The study was prepared by Gobelin House SLU on behalf of AAPA and builds methodologically on earlier research by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and AAPA. It examines 38 economies across Europe, the Western Balkans, Türkiye and North Africa.
The AAPA study results are estimates combining several data sources. The calculation of unauthorised IPTV use draws, among other things, on data about internet TV usage and the use of illegal online sources. For Switzerland, the study uses data from the Federal Statistical Office. As no specific Swiss piracy rate is available, the EU27 average from EUIPO data is used.
The AAPA figure covers unauthorised IPTV services and does not include the many people who use free illegal streaming services. The total number of people consuming pirated audiovisual content in Switzerland is therefore estimated to be well over one million.
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