8-Day Delay on Hulu Triggers Piracy Surge

It is sad that these networks make it so damn hard to watch content legitimatly. There are a handfull of shows my wife and I watch, and I would gladly pay a fee up front to download them on iTunes, or some other simular service. But Discovery, HBO, ect continue to only give my two options to watch these shows when they are aired. Pay for expensive ass cable service, or pirate them.

Getting a cable package that gives me all the shows I want to watch costs too much money, and unless I want to wait until next season I can't get them on the internet. These corporate morons will never figure it out, rather than selling me a pass to download the newest stuff they would rather have it stolen.

Just imagine if a musician only allowed you to get his/her music through a subscription, and you only got one track a week. But you got all these other artists that sucked and their music along with your subscription. Then the album wasn't avalible to purchase until 1 year after that?
 
I havent paid for cable in around 3 years now. It wasnt worth the cost for what I wanted. I hate commercials of course ... but it isnt the commercials that made me remove cable from my life (dvr solved commercials), it was the annoyance that to get the 10 or 12 channels I wanted to watch, 3 of them required the highest package, 3 other required a monthly fee of $20 or so a month for all of them.

The cable companies could get more people to get back on their services if they offered a custom package setup. If all I want is the military channel, basic cable channels, hbo, showtime and one other channel, why should I pay for the $100 package when I shouldnt be near that. If I could make my own package for that and it would cost me under $50, i'd be game. But I'd rather pony up $65/mth for FIOS internet and just go to town. The money I'm saving on cable TV lets me pay for my server, which stores everything I could want to watch (the only perk to streaming would be this, and I'd be willing to pay the same company I get my custom package from an extra $10/mth for an on demand whatever the hell I want kind of service).

tl;dr version... cable companies charge too much. let me make my own package and i might come back. store everything i want with the money saved.
 
They pretty much gave the viewers another solid reason to just pirate those TV shows by that dick move.

These companies need to realize that they cannot do just about anything they can think of to make more money. It isn't always going to go their way.
 
Just a heads up on all the questions of: "How you pirate something that's already free?"

Heres the answer, IT'S NOT FREE.
It's paid for by the comercials. Why else would comercial free Lost seasons be going for $30?

The real reason for the 8-day delay is because the studios can't get as much money from cable carriers if the programming is released simultaniously online.
This wouldn't be a big deal if online advertizers would pick up the slack, but online advertizements currently pay far less because there is the belief that as soon as programming is released online a good portion of the audience is lost to piracy.
 
Speaking of commercials, I find it insulting that DVD's and certain other services went through the effort of actually having fast-forward disabled when commercials are on. It's like, they know people don't want to see them, the "commercial break" is the time to get up get something to eat, go to the bathroom etc. So why does it matter whether or not they fast-forward them?

In order to disable fast-forward during commercials they had to say to themselves "People don't like to see commercials, so they will probably fast-forward through them, hey I got an idea, let's disable that so they can't!", is that supposed to "fix" things?

End minor rant
 
I just have a gripe that I pay for television.

If I'm not home I can DVR it and watch it later
If I'm not home I can't download it and watch it later.

The latter makes no sense to me. I mean its one thing if I'm downloading HBO TV shows without an HBO subscription. But even regular cable?

Stupid.
 
I know it doesn't help with local/regional marketing, but personally I would prefer to see more in show product placement type of advertising... as long as it isn't really in-your-face. Coke/Pepsi/etc. cans and bottles, trucks and cars with thier Ford/GMC/Honda/etc emblems still on them, etc. The old TV commercial is a dinosaur that needs to go extinct. I can't honestly say when the last time was I actually watched a commercial/movie trailer/etc. on TV thanks to commercial skipping, recorded TV, and downloaded episodes. I barely get to watch a 45 minute download of a TV show in one night, and if you threw in commercials it would take two nights just to complete a single TV episode.
 
Sovereign said:
Again Big Content shows it only understands its failing business model. When alternatives are available, people will take them. Instead of fighting, monetize. Have they tried (forgive my ignorance--I'm not up to date on this stuff) charging a small fee (like, $0.99) to view immediately/day after and then making it free/ad supported 8 days after? That would make more sense...
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I imagine that many of these studios/networks have some ownership in some of the advertising agencies that shoot the commercials. It isn't that they wouldn't be open to some alternatives, but they've just got themselves so intertwined in the machine that they have made themselves inflexible.

Personally, it comes down to being able to watch the programming when I want to watch it, not when some studio exec says I should. Not to mention that the sheer number of commercials has gotten completely out of control. I remember when I was a kid most of the "cable" channels had fewer commercials (if any) because they were pay channels. Now some of those cable only channels have more commercials than many of the broadcast networks.
 
BartY said:
I imagine that many of these studios/networks have some ownership in some of the advertising agencies that shoot the commercials. It isn't that they wouldn't be open to some alternatives, but they've just got themselves so intertwined in the machine that they have made themselves inflexible.

Personally, it comes down to being able to watch the programming when I want to watch it, not when some studio exec says I should. Not to mention that the sheer number of commercials has gotten completely out of control. I remember when I was a kid most of the "cable" channels had fewer commercials (if any) because they were pay channels. Now some of those cable only channels have more commercials than many of the broadcast networks.
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This is largely my bitch..Why the hell am I paying for premium channels to Watch any commercials much less usually More of the blasted things. I want 30 solid minutes of the show I want to watch..not 18 to 22 minutes with 8-10 minutes of useless bs.

I will gladly pay a premium to watch the shows I want to watch, When I want to watch them and without commercials. If I am getting it free, I understand the commercials. The reality is the entertainment industry needs to fix their utterly broken model.

Offer - Free
Show on Broadcast TV with commercial interruptions.
Show simulcast from their Web service with commercial interruptions.

Subscription or Pay per view
Show on TV Without commercial interruptions and on demand.
Show on their web service without commercial interruptions available whenever the consumer feels like watching it.

Those that want to watch it free can do so within reasonable restrictions. Those who want to watch whenever they feel like can pony up a little money.

The end result? Those who are going to pirate are going to do so period. Focus on making the experience for paying customers better and everyone gets what they want.
 
Ur_Mom said:
Wouldn't work. How would they sell the $10 bags of popcorn and $5 sodas?

I'd buy the Blu-ray straight away, though. I'd rather do it that way instead of the shitty theater. I have to drive an hour to go to a damn good theater worth watching movies at. Unless there are other people there, then it sucks. Some movies have to be seen on the big screen, most don't.

Commercials on a pay to watch system (cable/satellite) have baffled me. Usually, they pay for the content on OTA channels. That's how they got their income. Now, you pay twice. Once for the channels and again during the commercials. WTF? I'd pay for the shows themselves if I didn't have commercials the whole time. Kill cable, but watch what I want when I want would be great.
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True about the concessions. Luckily I have a decent theater within 10 minutes of my place. All the others (about 4) outside that 10 minutes are actually the shitty ones. That doesn't include the 2 Diner/Theaters within 25mins of me. Problem is all those theaters have terrible picture and/or sound quality.

It is at the point now, that my home theater is just way better than the theater. The only benefit to going to the theater for me now is the massive screen and theater atmosphere. Sound channels are messed up and screen calibration/brightness is a mess in most theaters. Aside from that, it is more expensive and lower quality. I'll honestly be glad when we get to a point of simultaneous release. It is coming, it is just a matter of time.
 
Sovereign said:
Again Big Content shows it only understands its failing business model. When alternatives are available, people will take them. Instead of fighting, monetize. Have they tried (forgive my ignorance--I'm not up to date on this stuff) charging a small fee (like, $0.99) to view immediately/day after and then making it free/ad supported 8 days after? That would make more sense...
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Don't be surprised when that happens, then it will progress to online viewing packages, of a whole bunch of content you don't watch.
 
I always love these piracy threads and the lying people do to try and convince themselves that they're justified. Just admit you're a dirty pirate and be done with it. It's pitiful.
 
No, tv shows are not free...

But... If I pay nearly $100 a month for cable TV, why should I have to watch commercials? I FUCKING HATE THEM. A few small ads here and there doesnt bug me, but the fact that there is more airtime of commercials vs actual content these days really burns me.

As most people here, Im watching more and more downloaded/streaming content, on top of paying a cable bill. Im very close to canceling the cable.
 
Rofl-Mic-Lofl said:
I always love these piracy threads and the lying people do to try and convince themselves that they're justified. Just admit you're a dirty pirate and be done with it. It's pitiful.
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Arrr! There's plenty of fine pirate booty for plunderin' ye bilge rats.
 
Rofl-Mic-Lofl said:
I always love these piracy threads and the lying people do to try and convince themselves that they're justified. Just admit you're a dirty pirate and be done with it. It's pitiful.
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I am a dirty pirate, but at least I did offer a method that would stop me from pirating tv shows. for movies, i do see a few in the theater... well, no, the drive in actually. sound plays through my car speakers and i get 2 movies for $7/person. take in whatever i want to eat, etc. so a trip to the movies can run me as little as $16 for 2 tickets plus some cans from a pack of soda or beer purchased at the store and it can go as high as i like. Average trip to the movies runs me around $26 for In N Out + a couple drinks from home + the 2 tickets ... and thats for 2 movies. Average trip to a sit down theater is $20 for just 2 tickets to 1 movie, plus popcorn and sodas (about $7 for the large popcorn + $3 for each soda)... $13 per movie or $33 per movie. easy choice for more enjoyment.

to the movies i download... I wont pay $20 for a blu ray to sit on a shelf taking up space that ill watch a few times. for the same $80 for 4 good blu rays, i can buy a new 2tb samsung drive. in that I can fit a good few more 1080p movies. if it were $10 each, id consider it quite a bit more then I do today...

that gives them options for both tv and movies that theyll never enact, and theyll continue to blame piracy instead of shitty pricing in a shitty economy.
 
Rofl-Mic-Lofl said:
I always love these piracy threads and the lying people do to try and convince themselves that they're justified. Just admit you're a dirty pirate and be done with it. It's pitiful.
Click to expand...
"I don't agree with your reasoning, so you must be lying to yourself!"
 
pyr02k1 said:
I am a dirty pirate, but at least I did offer a method that would stop me from pirating tv shows. for movies, i do see a few in the theater... well, no, the drive in actually. sound plays through my car speakers and i get 2 movies for $7/person. take in whatever i want to eat, etc. so a trip to the movies can run me as little as $16 for 2 tickets plus some cans from a pack of soda or beer purchased at the store and it can go as high as i like. Average trip to the movies runs me around $26 for In N Out + a couple drinks from home + the 2 tickets ... and thats for 2 movies. Average trip to a sit down theater is $20 for just 2 tickets to 1 movie, plus popcorn and sodas (about $7 for the large popcorn + $3 for each soda)... $13 per movie or $33 per movie. easy choice for more enjoyment.

to the movies i download... I wont pay $20 for a blu ray to sit on a shelf taking up space that ill watch a few times. for the same $80 for 4 good blu rays, i can buy a new 2tb samsung drive. in that I can fit a good few more 1080p movies. if it were $10 each, id consider it quite a bit more then I do today...

that gives them options for both tv and movies that theyll never enact, and theyll continue to blame piracy instead of shitty pricing in a shitty economy.
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What about Netflix or Redbox, etc?
 
demingo said:
I'm sorry but you couldn't be more wrong. While I think copyright law is horribly broken, your understanding of it is even worse.

One of the exclusive rights granted by copyright is the right to reproduce the work. The radio station is given permission by the copyright owner to reproduce (transmit over the air) the copyrighted work. You are not given a right to reproduce the work (record it to a casette). Recoding off the radio is a clear violation. Even playing a radio in a store is a violation the public performance clause of copyright.

People really need to educate themselves on the law and maybe finally we'd see some progress into getting copyright laws reformed. The only reason people didn't get sued is because it was much more difficult to track offenders as unlike with an IP address, there is no way to trace a cassette recorder from a remote location. Look to the Audio Home Recording Act for more information on knee-jerk reactions from Congressed based on the subject.
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dr.stevil said:
I don't dispute that people used to make mixed tapes off the radio... hell, I used to do it too. I also used to tape my favorite cartoons and fastforward through the commercials. That doesn't mean that I was licensed to copy and listen to it/view it.

With that said... I'm not saying that the logic isn't flawed... but that's the way that the system works. Fox isn't airing shows out of the kindness of their hearts... they're doing it because it makes them money. If they're not making money, they'll cancel the show in question.

This move, however, is stupid. Having to wait 24/48 hours was a PITA... let alone 8 days. I can certainly see why people would just download it instead of waiting. Maybe these networks should look into streaming their shows live via the internet as well as on TV. People then shouldn't be able to bitch too much and they still get their ad dollars. However, I have a feeling that the problem is also compounded by contracts with various networks and syndication deals (re-airings and such)
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No.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_Corp._of_America_v._Universal_City_Studios,_Inc.
 
I pay $90 a month for cable. I watch only 2 things. Formula 1 and MotoGP races. I would gladly pay $10 or so per race to download them legally. As it is, I find myself recording the races to watch later, as they screen at midnight here. But i get 78 channels and i can guarantee that 50% or them are playing a commercial at any one time. Also my cable provider puts adverts on during the live races and then just delays the coverage. Last years Race at Monza should have been 1 hr and 20 minutes. Start to finish was 2hrs 31minutes. 71 minutes of adverts in a 85 minute race.

i am >< this close to cancelling my cable and just downloading them. that way i get higher quality, (no HD cable here) no ads, i can watch the race whenever i want, and i save $1080/y that it costs me to watch 40 races.
also downloading them would save the hassle that when there are two races on at the same time (like there is this sunday) i have to watch one and record the other, forcing me to stay up and watch the hour and a half of ads
 
How is downloading TV shows considered Pirating when you pay for cable TV but are never around when the shows air to watch when they air. How is this any different than Tivo or TV tuners?
 
Rofl-Mic-Lofl said:
I always love these piracy threads and the lying people do to try and convince themselves that they're justified. Just admit you're a dirty pirate and be done with it. It's pitiful.
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My name is Ur_Mom and I'm a dirty pirate.

Justification doesn't play into it. Yes, it's wrong any way you look at it. But, sometimes, there is NO alternative. No streaming, no DVD/Blu release, no reruns, it's just NOT available anymore - anywhere BUT pirated. Wrong, yes. Legal? No. Am I a bad person? Nah. Will reform of the cable/satellite/streaming system fix it? Hardly. But, I will support the changes, and my pay my dues when needed. If I miss an episode and it's not online for streaming - yes, I'll hit a torrent.

Besides, the porn I watch is illegal in the US, Canada, most of Europe and Asia and Australia. The Internet knows no boundaries.
 
rive22 said:
How is downloading TV shows considered Pirating when you pay for cable TV but are never around when the shows air to watch when they air. How is this any different than Tivo or TV tuners?
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It's the means of viewing. You are downloading via a unsupported means that takes out the commercials and they have no revenue stream. Tivo or tuners still have commercials and they are accounted for when submitting the stats to advertisers.
 
Rofl-Mic-Lofl said:
I always love these piracy threads and the lying people do to try and convince themselves that they're justified. Just admit you're a dirty pirate and be done with it. It's pitiful.
Click to expand...

I'm a dirty pirate... fuck fox, fuck mpaa, fuck riaa, fuck hollywood, fuck all'yo.. eat my dick-cheese. I'll watch what I want and get that shit for free..
 
Ur_Mom said:
It's the means of viewing. You are downloading via a unsupported means that takes out the commercials and they have no revenue stream. Tivo or tuners still have commercials and they are accounted for when submitting the stats to advertisers.
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To my knowledge, those stats are based on the Nielsen ratings which have absolutely nothing to do with anything other than the households specifically selected to participate in formulating the viewership.
 
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