Serie A and Sportian Score with AI-Powered Anti-Piracy

In a significant stride for sports content protection, Lega Serie A and Sportian - Globant’s sports tech division - have declared their first year of collaboration a resounding success in, claiming that AI-powered defences have transformed how the league fights illegal streaming. According to a joint press release, the Piracy Guard service has been instrumental in detecting and blocking over 4,500 piracy attacks per match week, a pace of intervention that effectively shields live broadcasts from unauthorized spoilers while preserving the value of broadcast rights.

Sportian’s Piracy Guard is no ordinary firewall - it’s a sophisticated fusion of real-time monitoring, AI detection, and human oversight. Combined with deep partnerships across major platforms like META, YouTube, and TikTok, the system doesn’t just find illegal streams - it removes them at scale, consistently outpacing piracy schemes before they gain traction. This layered approach means that infringing content is not only identified with high accuracy but also neutralized rapidly across multiple digital touchpoints.

Lega Serie A’s Media Operations & Broadcast Director, Luisella Fusco, spoke bluntly about the importance of vigilance: “Piracy remains one of the greatest threats to the sustainability of football, and we consider it part of our responsibility to lead the fightback and protect our sport for future generations.”

Sportian’s Pablo lo Giudice, Product Manager of Piracy Guard, tapped into Italy’s defensive heritage by affirming: “Italian football gave the world catenaccio - the system of world-class defence - and we’re bringing that same energy to keep piracy out of the game.”

This strategic victory is more than just headline-worthy numbers. Sportian reports that its broader anti-piracy suite has removed over 13 million illegal streams, taken down more than 90,000 piracy apps, eliminated 21 million illicit URLs, and flagged 2.2 million IPTV services, achieving a remarkable 98% removal rate globally. These statistics highlight just how systemic and widespread the piracy threat has become - and how effectively AI-driven tools can close the gap.

By employing this proactive, AI-enhanced "digital catenaccio," Serie A has not only lifted its streaming defences but also protected critical commercial revenue and broadcaster confidence. As sporting piracy evolves, the league’s example offers a model for others seeking to preserve the integrity and sustainability of live sports content in the digital era.