Apparently people are using file sharing to illegally download their favourite TV programmes. Yes, really…
Millions of television viewers are now using illegal file-sharing services to access free and unauthorised copies of programmes, research has revealed.
Maybe it’s me being a little bit dense, but If I switch on my television, I can watch these programmes for free. What, then, is the difference between doing that and catching up on an episode I’ve missed by downloading a copy?
It’s also worth bearing in mind that as a non UK resident, I’m not paying a UK licence fee, so that one is irrelevant. Copyright is irrelevant because these people are doing nothing that doesn’t happen if they record the programme via their DVD or Video recorder. Loss of revenue is irrelevant because they would be watching for free when watching the live broadcast.
So, ultimately, this has to be about the media trying to exert control using copyright infringement as a Trojan horse.
“Millions of television viewers now access free, unauthorised versions of favourite shows at least some of the time,” says Eric Garland the chief executive of Big Champagne.
Note the use of the word “unauthorised”. Who the fuck is Eric Garland to authorise what we watch and when?
“This is a socially acceptable form of casual piracy – and it is replacing viewing hours.”
What? What!?! In practice it is no different to time shifting using a video recorder. If you miss an episode and download it to your computer, there is no difference whatsoever to having managed to record it via the television signal as both affect “viewing hours”. Piracy indeed. It is not piracy while the programmes are transmitted free no matter what authoritarian morons such as Eric Garland might say. That is why it is socially acceptable. And while the Eric Garlands of this world continue to make a fuss about something that is innocuous, we will not take them seriously.
“Maybe it’s me being a little bit dense, but If I switch on my television, I can watch these programmes for free.”
I suspect a lot of them are downloading stuff that’s not on over here yet (for instance, ‘Burn Notice’ is on season 3 in the States, while only season 1 has been shown here), or is only available on pay-per-view satellite channels rather than terrestrial tv.
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They must ne concerned about revenue somewhere. Probably as JuliaM says or lost DVD sales. It irritates me that the BBC charges so much for it’s DVDs when I have paid for the program already. DVD sales of shoes like Lost and 24 have probably dropped due to filesharing and iPlayer.
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In fairness their argument is that it is being downloaded in places like Asia where broadcasters sell this programmes for screening on pay tv channels.
What they don’t tell us is that those who down could already be subscribers but want to see the programmes earlier or uncut. Furthermore, the same argument as for music applies – just because someone downloads it illegally doesn’t mean they are avoiding either paying for the programme/subscription because they wouldn’t buy it anyway.
“it is no different to time shifting using a video recorder”
Well yes. But they want to outlaw that, too, you see.
The big push for digital is at least partly driven by the fact that it enables hard DRM which lets them stop you recording, time-shifting, etc etc.
That is not being said openly, and won’t be for a while, but it is true. And they will try to use it.