M aryland-based media marketing organization CTAM has expanded its resource for consumers looking for safe streaming options with a dedicated Canadian offering: www.streamsafely.ca.

The expansion launches today (March 26) and has been rolled out in collaboration with affiliate CTAM Canada.

The www.streamsafely.com service initially launched in January 2020 as a centralized hub for the “unwitting pirate” – consumers who stumble upon and stream pirated content without knowing it, redirecting them instead to legitimate content via a dedicated Where to Watch guide for the latest popular programming across a wide variety of streaming networks. It also offers comprehensive information and resources about the dangers of content piracy.

Since its launch, more than 2.25 million consumers have visited the site, with over a million visitors in 2023 alone, according to a news release.

A January report from piracy tracking firm MUSO and consulting firm Kearney classified Canada as a piracy “hotspot,” with data suggesting that pirate site visits grew domestically by roughly 50% between 2018 and 2023. Other countries classified as hotspots included Sweden, Hong Kong and Qatar.

Worldwide, there were 229.4 billion global visits to piracy sites in 2023 with TV piracy, representing 45% and film representing 13% of visits.

Noteworthy for consumers, nearly three quarters (72%) of consumers who paid for pirate services using a credit card were later hit with fraudulent charges – and 44% were victims of identity theft.

“Recognizing Canada’s increasing prominence as a piracy hotspot, we’re pleased to offer Canadian viewers their own dedicated StreamSafely.ca site to find new and popular programming without the risks that come with pirated content like malware and identity theft,” said CTAM president and CEO Vicki Lins in a statement. “The fact is that some viewers don’t even know when they are streaming pirated content, but when they do they are putting their data and their finances at risk.”

CTAM is the industry association focused on the advancement of content distribution across multiple platforms. CTAM Canada has more than 500 members across Canada and abroad, representing content providers, cable and telecommunications distributors as well as technology and service companies.

Image courtesy of CTAM