For a brief period, film and TV piracy in Australia seemed to be somewhat under control.

When Netflix launched in Australia in 2015, it provided a service the local media sector had lacked for years: instant, affordable and extensive access to a broad library of movies and series.

A decade later, that optimism has somewhat faded. Audiences now navigate an increasingly fragmented streaming market, spanning Apple TV, Binge, Disney , HBO Max, Netflix, Paramount Plus, Prime Video, Stan, and sports services such as Kayo Sports. The list goes on.

And as the number of streaming platforms grows, so too do subscription costs. In 2025, Australians spent almost A$4 billion on streaming subscriptions, with the average household paying around $42 per month, up 18% on the previous year.

These costs are pushing viewers towards alternatives such as Stremio – one of several media aggregation apps through which viewers can access pirated content.

Australia’s long piracy history

Australia has historically recorded some of the world’s highest piracy rates for film and TV.

In 2015, the ABC reported 29% of Australians aged 18–64 illegally downloaded movies or TV shows – and 54% aged 18–24 did so regularly.

Much of this stemmed from frustrations with content access. Australian audiences have faced delayed release windows, geo-blocking and expensive pay-TV exclusivity deals. For many, piracy was a workaround for a........

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