Positive outcome of web 'piracy'?

[Miyazaki]

People downloading tv shows to catchup on the latest episode before it hits the UK is obviously affecting ratings figures over here.

To subvert that, Heroes is the latest tv show to air closely in the UK after the US premiere.

How many of us remember in days gone by, where we had to wait 6 months after a US premiere to watch our favourite shows ?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7499980.stm

[zAndy1]

mmmm but does that include the HD broadcast on BBC HD?

[JohnG]

That's a good sign. The other thing that bugs me is that some shows aren't even released on Region 2 DVD. For example, Rescue Me has had 4 seasons in the US all now available on DVD, over here we've only had the first 3 seasons with no sign of the 4th being aired over here and we only have the first 2 seasons on DVD.

[kBm]

It can only be a good thing!

Sky did show Lost Season 4 at the same time as the USA (i think it was a week out). I hope it contiues with other shows and not just the big hitters.

Although, we'll never catch up with Neighbours.....

[Goooner]

I've bought loads of DVDs (R1 and R2) of TV shows that I've only seen beacuse I've downloaded them, a lot of them never see the light of day over here and if they do, turn up in the middle of the night on some obscure channel, so the industry has certainly benefitted from me downloading

I remember a few years ago, when Friends was big, we often had to wait a year, before it turned up on C4.

Same with movies, since downloading and region-free DVD players, rather than waiting for weeks or in some cases months for movies to cross the pond, they're more often than not released the same day, if not then the following week now.

[JonnyTester]

Originally Posted by kBm

It can only be a good thing!

Sky did show Lost Season 4 at the same time as the USA (i think it was a week out).

And has always done so with The Simpsons.

[Sonic67]

Several programmes have become a hit over here thanks to word of mouth. People download programmes from America and tell others about them. When the programme appears here on the normal TV stations there's already a level of interest.

No offense to anyone but there was a time when people wouldn't be boasting about stealing things because at least deep down they knew they were doing something wrong.

[pringtef]

Originally Posted by tunococ

No offense to anyone but there was a time when people wouldn't be boasting about stealing things because at least deep down they knew they were doing something wrong.

I think people, myself included, might take offence not in the right of you to have an opinion, which you're free to express, but in the assertion that any of the posters on this thread are boasting about it.

It's down to the individual to decide whether this is something that affects their conscience, but personally, I think downloading of programs etc has now become analogous with making copies of albums onto tape that was such a mainstay of the 70s and 80s.

Let he who is without sin......

[Mr Incredible]

Originally Posted by pringtef

Let he who is without sin......

Don't marginalise the non-believing members!!! "Sin" is a religious dogma and has nothing to do with values other than to put other people down. And what a way to instil values and respect...... "..... cast the first stone". Yeah, right.

[SeanT]

I downloaded every episode of friends from the US. Didn't stop my wife lining their coffers when she saw all the box sets on offer. Everybody wins (even the blank CD companies at the time, as HDD space wasn't that cheap!)

[Sonic67]

I downloaded the first series of Dexter from the US, for the second series I couldn't be bothered and I'm now watching it on FX.

[Mr Incredible]

I missed the entire series of both The West Wing and The Sopranos when they were aired on C4. I don't feel bad about being able to catch up on them now.

EDIT: I've just looked at the cumulative download on my newsreader....... 737GB

[Singh400]

Yup, and piracy increased the fanbase. Most of the world had seen Heroes Season 1, before the cast went on tour to promote the show in each country. So what you have as a result of piracy is a much bigger fanbase, and lots of people buying the DVD boxsets when they are released.

[wormvortex]

I don't see the problem with people downloading shows such as Heroes anyway. Everyone pays for a TV licence and everyone can in theory watch it when it does air. So it's not technical stealing or copyright.

Programmes like Lost would be different though as they are shown on Sky.