OTT video service credential sharing will cost the industry $500 million in direct revenues worldwide in 2015, according to new research from Park Associates.
The report titled The Cost of Piracy shows 6% of US broadband households use an OTT video service that is paid by a person living outside of the household.
“Credential sharing has a measurable impact on video services, particularly in the OTT video service area, where young subscribers are active,” said Glenn Hower, research analyst, Parks Associates.
“The impact on OTT video revenues is especially troublesome as OTT providers are investing large sums of money to boost their original content offerings,” said Hower.
The report found that 20% of OTT users aged 18-24 use an OTT video service paid by someone outside the home, the highest of any age group. Only 10% of OTT subscribers 25-34 admit to this behavior.
“While credential sharing predominantly impacts OTT service revenues, the process will affect pay-TV operators in a similar fashion as they develop and deploy their own OTT and TV Everywhere offerings,” Hower said.
“The motivation for credential sharing is primarily economic, and a move to consolidate video service subscriptions among family and friends stands to impact digital video services of all types in the near future,” he added.