In today’s evolving film industry, protecting theatrical releases from piracy is critical to maximising revenue.
The rise of streaming services and the ease with which content can be illegally distributed have increased the pressure on studios to invest in anti-piracy measures. However, film production companies are often left grappling with how much to invest in these efforts. The launch of our new ROI and Impact reporting tool has provided much-needed clarity for film studios to make better decisions on anti-piracy budgets.
Historically, anti-piracy solutions have often been judged based on the removal of individual piracy links, leading to a narrow view of their overall value. The challenge often comes from justifying the expenditure on anti-piracy efforts when the results are frequently tied to isolated instances, like the removal of a specific link that a producer notices. The true impact, however, extends far beyond this, and that's where our new ROI calculator offers substantial value.
The ROI tool provides an in-depth analysis, focusing on financial impact rather than just link removals. For example, in one discussion with a film studio, their budget allocation for anti-piracy efforts was standardised across all theatrical releases. However, there was no concrete method to assess whether that investment was appropriate for each release. By utilising the ROI calculator, film studios now have the ability to determine whether their anti-piracy spend is proportionate to the potential financial losses from piracy. This adds an important layer of context to decision-making, allowing studios to adjust their budgets more effectively based on the specific needs of each title.
Moreover, alongside the ROI tool, we presented compelling data on the piracy we've already disrupted for one of their key titles. Our ISP module demonstrated the extent of piracy activity we had intercepted. This impact metric not only shows the scale of piracy that had been curtailed but also provides a clear financial picture of how much revenue could have been lost to piracy. By combining this data with the ROI analysis, studios can see both the missed opportunities due to piracy and the potential revenue recovery enabled by our anti-piracy efforts.
This is a crucial step forward for film studios, especially in light of current industry trends. Theatrical releases are regaining importance as cinemas recover from the pandemic, and the box office is once again becoming a key revenue stream. Yet, piracy remains a persistent threat, particularly as films often debut on digital platforms shortly after their cinema runs. As studios look to maximise returns from theatrical releases, ensuring that piracy is effectively combated can make a significant difference in the overall revenue generated by a film.
In today’s market, investing in anti-piracy isn’t just about stopping illegal streams or downloads—it’s about understanding the financial impact of piracy and adjusting strategies to protect revenue effectively. Tools like our ROI calculator and Impact reporting provide film studios with the insight needed to make informed investment decisions, ensuring that anti-piracy efforts are aligned with the financial stakes of each release. This data-driven approach is helping to shift the conversation from link removal to financial protection, optimising how studios defend their releases in the ever-changing landscape of the entertainment industry.
For more information or to see how our ROI and Impact reporting can benefit your upcoming release, contact Tom Colyer, Commercial Director of Content Protection at tom.colyer@muso.com.