Astraweb removing UFC content

[Sometwo]

I've noticed recently that Astraweb is removing UFC content, and now doing so pretty quickly. Sometimes less than a day it's no longer available. I haven't really seen this problem with movies and such, but is this a sign that retention is going to be less important in the future due to the NGP removing the content? Are there any providers who don't do that?

[Cascadeur]

More importantly:
how to go around those takedowns ?
how to know about them without having to download the whole stuff?

[Sometwo]

How to get around them yes, but from my experience Astraweb deletes all UFC content so there is nothing to download.

[sandman_1]

Just tried UFC 145 and Newsbin Pro reports, "DMCA'd". If they have a server in the USA, then they have to do DMCA to get safe harbor provisions provided by the DMCA. Fortunately I get UFC's as soon as they post. That and I have no need to watch them again or keep them.

[Sometwo]

Is there a NGP that is as good and cheap as Astraweb that doesn't have servers in the US or remove content?

[Hole69]

Mangled here, dead on Astra and Blocknews. I'd look for a small European provider.

[enerdude]

More importantly:
how to go around those takedowns ?
how to know about them without having to download the whole stuff?

Use a good NZB completion checker like this one (MUCH quicker for checking completion than actually downloading everything ):

http://www.zoon.dk/2012/05/11/nzb-co...lpha-update-5/

Download link is on the righthand side of the page (NZBcc 1.1.0.0alpha)
After installing it, check the settings. Under validation methods, make sure "use article head" is ticked because this is more accurate. Then just add a news server, load an nzb you wanna test for completion and bob's your uncle!

I did some testing (using a random UFC nzb) seeing that i have access to a few different usenet accounts....

Details:

Release: UFC 145 Jones vs Evans PPV HDTV XviD aAF
Link on nzbmatrix for those interested: http://nzbmatrix.com/nzb-details.php?id=1254654&hit=1
Age of nzb (as of today when the test was done): 25 days

BTW, according to nzb contents this release was originally uploaded using astraweb.

Results using nzb completion checker:

• Astraweb (eu.news.astraweb.com):

100% completion but this is false cause what astraweb has done is to keep the articles but fill their content with "Content removed due to DMCA."

So if nzb completion checker ever gives you good completion of an UFC nzb, first try and download one rar archive (and the first .par maybe if you wanna check the file using a par checker) from the nzb and check if the contents is txt and contains such a DMCA message.

• Giganews (news-europe.giganews.com):

12% completion LOL. Basically only the .nfo and first .par file was intact.

• Newshosting (news.newshosting.com - based in amsterdam)

(This is using the core of the highwinds feed - so lot of other usenet providers that is using highwinds will have the same result)

0% completion!

• Secretusenet.com

(They are using the other major feed, namely the readnews feed)
US server (198.186.190.131)
0% completion!

EU server (178.22.82.50)
85% completion (I did not actually download using a normal news client so I cant say if repair would be possible, but it is likely)

• Xennews (91.203.106.140 - this is a trial server but has same retention as their pay servers)
  

100% completion!

So this is an example of a provider that are probably using their own feed (definately not giganews, astraweb, highwinds or readnews feeds) and is based in Europe (Amsterdam)
They are the same company bringing you just4today and hitnews BTW
As can be seen by looking at secretusenet, europe servers are generally the way to go as all US server seems to get hit the quickest and hardest...

I have also posted a way to get unlimited trial (2 day and/or 10 GB) Xennews accounts here:

https://filesharingtalk.com/threads/4...GB-x-unlimited

So enjoy while it lasts!

Edit: just tested binload (85.12.7.190) - they also have 100% completion. So those lucky enough to have signed up for the public beta in time can use them to download UFC stuff too!

[Sometwo]

Thanks enerdude! It's good to know we have some options. I might actually get a block account with Xennews as a backup for when Astraweb removes content.

[hdjunky]

I think this is partly the fault of the threads over the years in all the nzb forums saying who does dmca takedowns and who doesn't...who to go to to get this and that. No doubt "they" are watching and people are spood feeding them.

If we got rid of nzbs I think this problem would go away completely. Let's get back to headers for awhile to take them off our trail.

[enerdude]

I think this is partly the fault of the threads over the years in all the nzb forums saying who does dmca takedowns and who doesn't...who to go to to get this and that. No doubt "they" are watching and people are spood feeding them.

If we got rid of nzbs I think this problem would go away completely. Let's get back to headers for awhile to take them off our trail.

Getting rid of NZBs is obviously not gonna happen. And using headers will just make it slightly more difficult for them to take down but if they are determined (like "these people" taking down UFC content so quickly) nothing will stop them.
Also the beginning of the end could be near for usenet (facing same fate as filehosters) if we see more of these new sites like usenetstorm.com and usegrab.com (they provide web access to binary groups, usegrab.com is even free for upto 5 GB files)