Is downloading TV content an act of piracy?

**whatcdfan** · 07-22-2011, 02:50 PM

Speak.............

**stoi** · 07-22-2011, 02:54 PM

I would say yes, because they come out with box sets for people to buy (never understood why people buy them though as you can just watch them on the TV) and also the viewing figures, if they drop like with Heroes and Twin Peaks, they cut the show as its not worth paying for the show and the advertisers pull out because they are not hitting the audience they were for the 1st series.

**a7x** · 07-22-2011, 02:58 PM

Yes.they come out on TV, but sometime only once or twice. So production makes money with DVD afterward. You download them, you cut the profit.

**anon** · 07-22-2011, 04:21 PM

Is downloading TV content an act of piracy?

What makes you think otherwise

Originally Posted by stoi

I would say yes, because they come out with box sets for people to buy (never understood why people buy them though as you can just watch them on the TV)

Watching the episodes when you want, as many times as you wish? TV won't give you that, at least not where I live.

**stoi** · 07-22-2011, 05:03 PM

We have cable boxes with HDDs in them, clever inventions, download a program/movie (obviously from TV not download as we know it) and watch it again and again if you want. You also have Iplayers galore, miss an episode, watch it on the net.

**megabyteme** · 07-22-2011, 05:17 PM

For one, nothing we download is an act of "piracy" except in terms that the word "piracy" has been attached to downloading media. There is a world of difference between its original usage, and the bastardized name that has been attached to downloading copies of digital media without paying the rightsholder(s) as many times as they want to be paid for that media.

As for the television shows themselves, no. Traditionally, these shows have either been free over-the-air with commercials, or pay television by subscription.

While downloaders do not obtain the shows from the rightsholder(s), THEY DO STILL WATCH THE CONTENT. Which is, more and more, filled with product placements- which are paid for by advertisers. And, yes, the media companies do keep track of how many "viewers" are doing so via download- AND CHARGING ACCORDINGLY for our viewership. They also have the ability to sell branded merchandise, and create spin-offs, as well as movies- if there is a large enough following for the show.

Look at the number of production companies springing up all across the globe. This is being done at the very same time as we are being blamed for the failure of revenues to create new shows. Bullshit.

Look at the mega-blockbusters that are bringing in hundreds of millions of dollars each- while still being downloaded rampantly.

No. We are not "pirates"; we are not thieves- we are consumers and a very vital part of the equation.

**a7x** · 07-22-2011, 05:46 PM

Originally Posted by megabyteme

No. We are not "pirates"; we are not thieves- we are consumers and a very vital part of the equation.

**whatcdfan** · 07-22-2011, 06:17 PM

Ok, Thanks everyone for showing up. I have read all the comments and I'm not going to quote 'em individually.

The basic point of argument was that everything that is on TV is free anyways (apart from the subscription fee but that too has no point when the shows are filled with advertisements) and for sure with the modern technology and services we are facilitated to watch it when we like it and how many times we wish to see it. I thought, it's way too obvious to be mentioned in the original post.

The DVD point raised was sure a good argument but the argument can also be further stretched what Stoi came up with.