The Top Illegally Downloaded TV Show of 2023 has been Unearthed

The top pirated TV show of 2023 has been unveiled in a recent report, with an HBO series surpassing all others. Piracy rates have reached unprecedented levels in both the US and globally. While pirated copies were once exchanged covertly, today's technology provides numerous avenues to obtain and view unauthorized content.

Every year, pirated material is estimated to be viewed more than 230 billion times, with illegal streaming services and torrenting accounting for over 80% of global piracy. TV content is especially affected, with hundreds of billions of episodes being streamed annually. Furthermore, 2023 has been hailed as the best year for television this decade, resulting in a significant increase in piracy. One show, in particular, has been torrented more than any other.

The Last of Us is the most pirated show of 2023

The Last of Us is the most torrented show of 2023, according to Torrent Freak.

HBO appears to be struggling with the challenge, following the success of House of the Dragon in 2022 and the rampant piracy of Game of Thrones until its conclusion in 2019. WandaVision made an impact in 2020, and The Mandalorian continued the trend in 2021. See the complete list below:

The Last of Us

The Mandalorian

Loki

Ahsoka

Secret Invasion

Silo

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters

Tulsa King

Gen V

Ted Lasso

The chart is based on BitTorrent traffic, which only represents a small part of the piracy landscape. Most people now use streaming sites and services that do not typically report viewing statistics. It is worth noting that there are no Netflix releases on the list, likely due to the streamer's extensive 247 million paying subscribers as of Q3 in 2023. This is a 20% lead over Prime Video's estimated 200 million customers, and more than the combined 232 million subscribers of Disney Plus and Max.

Sign up for Max to watch The Last of Us and stay updated on Season 2. Check out our rankings of the best TV shows of 2023. Please be aware that clicking on product links may result in us earning a small affiliate commission.

Editor's P/S

As a Gen Z fan, I'm not surprised by the news that The Last of Us has become the most illegally downloaded TV show of 2023. The show has been highly anticipated and has received critical acclaim, making it a prime target for piracy. While I understand that piracy is illegal and can have negative consequences for the entertainment industry, I also believe that it's a symptom of a larger problem: the high cost of streaming services.

Many Gen Z viewers, including myself, are struggling to afford the rising cost of streaming services. With so many different platforms offering exclusive content, it's becoming increasingly difficult to keep up. This is especially true for younger viewers who may not have a steady income or the financial support of their parents. As a result, many Gen Z viewers are turning to piracy as a way to access the content they want without breaking the bank.