IPTV Piracy is Booming in Norway as Legal Access Becomes More Expensive
In Norway, IPTV piracy is surging as many households turn to unauthorized streaming services—especially for live sports—due to high prices of legal subscriptions. A recent Mediavision survey found that 1.25 million Norwegians, or 30% of the 15–74 age group, use illicit streaming services monthly . Notably, 14% of all Norwegian households subscribe to unauthorized IPTV—marking a 40% increase in just one year .
Legal rights holders, including Viaplay, and anti-piracy groups warn of an existential threat to the creative industries. Jon Espen Nergård of Nordic Content Protection estimates the illegal IPTV market’s turnover is nearing one billion Norwegian kroner, with profits channeled into criminal hands . Politicians also condemn piracy outright: Tage Pettersen emphasizes—“It’s illegal” .
However, many experts and public figures point fingers squarely at soaring costs. A premium Viaplay sports subscription costs 749 NOK/month (~$73)—one of Europe’s steepest rates—while the same tier costs only 235 NOK (~$23) in the Netherlands . MP Mimir Kristjansson laments, “Football digs its own grave when it costs so much money that ordinary people cannot have a Premier League season subscription…” . Labor MP Agnes Nærland Viljugrein also notes that, while she doesn’t condone illegal behavior, high pricing pushes people toward piracy .
