When Piracy Is Easier Than Legit Purchase - Video content industry still not quite getting it....

When Piracy Is Easier Than Legit Purchase
Video content industry still not quite getting it....
(old news - 11:31AM Friday Sep 14 2007)
tags: Video · competition · business · content

We've repeatedly noted that when bloggers, industry analysts and the companies they analyze discuss competing for your broadband affections, there's a tendency to treat piracy like the invisible elephant in the room. The reality remains that fair or not, ethical or not, broadband content distributors are in competition with piracy.

NBC recently demanded that the FCC force broadband providers to ban pirated traffic on their networks, using the argument that said trading hurts corn farmers by cannibalizing movie theater revenue. The company then went on to pull their video content from iTunes, driving many of those users to the very pirated services NBC loathes.

CNET's Chris Soghoian explores how while NBC is making it harder to get its content, tools like Miro are making it easier to pirate content:

"It's taken some time, but the 'piracy' path has finally gotten to be more user-friendly and easy to use than iTunes and the other pay-services. Miro, a multi-platform RSS and BitTorrent enabled media client is now very stable, polished and fast. Using a tool such as this, and a couple minutes of configuration to subscribe to your favorite shows, it's now possible for users worldwide to wake up to the latest episode of The Daily Show, without paying a penny, or being locked into a restrictive DRM scheme."

Of course, NBC has plans of its own. Many of their shows will be available via their new service Hulu, which heads into beta this October.

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Chiyo Save Me Konata-Chan Premium join:2003-02-20 Minneapolis, MN clubs: ·Comcast	If you cap it,they will download it I think it's just a lost cause the tv studios and channels can only do so much. If people can get it for free they will. Even people I know who aren't the most computer alliterates are pirating TV and enjoying it. They like the quality and commercial free aspect the most. -- My Blog: »jaab1.blogspot.com/
	permalink · 2007-09-14 11:38:32 ·

swhx7
Premium
join:2006-07-23
Elbonia

·RoadRunner Cable

Re: If you cap it,they will download it

said by Chiyo

:

If people can get it for free they will.

Even people I know who aren't the most computer alliterates are pirating TV and enjoying it. They like the quality and commercial free aspect the most.

Is it the "free" or the "quality and commercial free" that's the most important factor?

I believe that most of the pirates would be willing to pay for legal content if it were high quality, free from DRM, and priced low. People would rather be free from the worry about lawsuits and would like to support the studios that make shows they like. The problem is simply that the copyright owners have never offered anything comparable.

permalink · 2007-09-14 12:07:11 · Print ·

TK Junk Mail
Go ahead, make my day
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Margate City, NJ
clubs:

·Comcast

Re: If you cap it,they will download it

said by swhx7

:

Is it the "free" or the "quality and commercial free" that's the most important factor?

I believe that most of the pirates would be willing to pay for legal content if it were high quality, free from DRM, and priced low.

And I disagree. As long as it is free, no level of quality and low price will satisfy most pirates. Their belief that they are entitled to everything for free is the major driving force in their selfish philosophy of life.
--
--
Internet News
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permalink · 2007-09-14 12:37:26 · Print ·

karlmarx

join:2006-09-18
Nashua, NH

·Fairpoint Communic..

Re: If you cap it,they will download it

But, your argument holds no merit. All of the shows on NBC are FREE already. They broadcast it over the air for all to watch. The fact that I choose to WATCH their FREE broadcast on a different medium is what annoys them. But downloading an OTA TV show from the internet is not stealing. If it's HBO or the like, then yes, you are stealing. But getting a FREE tv show in a format that is better for you is not immoral, illegal or wrong.
--
Stick it to the MAN. Support your local torrent sites. Proudly providing 100mb of upstream for all your TV, Movie, and MP3 needs.

permalink · 2007-09-14 12:46:24 · Print ·

Nightfall
My Goal Is To Deny Yours
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Grand Rapids, MI
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·Site5.com

·AT&T Midwest

·Comcast

Re: If you cap it,they will download it

said by karlmarx

:

But, your argument holds no merit. All of the shows on NBC are FREE already. They broadcast it over the air for all to watch. The fact that I choose to WATCH their FREE broadcast on a different medium is what annoys them. But downloading an OTA TV show from the internet is not stealing. If it's HBO or the like, then yes, you are stealing. But getting a FREE tv show in a format that is better for you is not immoral, illegal or wrong.

When it comes to television, I agree.
When it comes to software, games, music, and so on, I disagree.

I am pretty sure he was talking about the later.

permalink · 2007-09-14 13:24:41 · Print ·

ross

join:2000-08-16

·Digizip

Re: If you cap it,they will download it

said by Nightfall

said by karlmarx

When it comes to television, I agree.
When it comes to software, games, music, and so on, I disagree.

I am pretty sure he was talking about the later.

I'm pretty sure x544348 couldn't possibly have been talking about anything but TV, if you are referring to x544348's comment which was a direct reply to Chyo, who was talking about TV. And, Karlmarx certainly wasn't talking about "software, games, music, and son on". You are the only one talking about "software, games, music, and son on", as far as I can see. Try to pay attention!

permalink · 2007-09-14 14:40:37 · Print ·

Nightfall
My Goal Is To Deny Yours
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Grand Rapids, MI
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edit:
September 14th, @03:48PM

Re: If you cap it,they will download it

said by ross

said by Nightfall

said by karlmarx

When it comes to television, I agree.
When it comes to software, games, music, and so on, I disagree.

I am pretty sure he was talking about the later.

You were replying to what swhx7 said. At least that is what I thought. Obviously, you didn't mean to click on the "Reply" box on his post. You meant to do it on the first post.

As for the "try to pay attention" remark, you might want to invoke a little more respectable attitude. People make reply mistakes all the time. Belittling someone is not really a great course of action.

permalink · 2007-09-14 15:47:43 · Print ·

ross

join:2000-08-16

·Digizip

Re: If you cap it,they will download it

said by Nightfall

:

You were replying to what swhx7 said. At least that is what I thought. Obviously, you didn't mean to click on the "Reply" box on his post. You meant to do it on the first post.

As for the "try to pay attention" remark, you might want to invoke a little more respectable attitude. People make reply mistakes all the time. Belittling someone is not really a great course of action.

Absolutely not! You took issue with karlmarx, who was taking issue with x544348, who was taking issue with swhx7, who was questioning Chiyo.

I was taking issue with you for the reason I stated. That is why I clicked on your post reply box, not anyone else's.

The point was no one was talking about anything but TV, until you tried to introduce "software, games, music, and so on", which was irrelevant to karlmarx's reply to x544348. You then attributed the addition of software, games, etc. to x544348 by inference; "I am pretty sure he (emphasis added) was talking about the latter."-Nightfall

The discussion was/is about broadcast TV programs downloaded off the net...and I agree with karlmarx, not with x544348, and so, apparently, do you. So why your off-topic reference to illegal downloading of software, games, etc., muddying the waters? Either you had an agenda, or you weren't paying attention. Either way, your remarks re illegal "software, games, music, and so on", were irrelevant, and only served to obfuscate the points so aptly summarized by karlmarx.

Sorry you took umbrage...

permalink · 2007-09-14 18:25:16 · Print ·

TK Junk Mail Go ahead, make my day Premium join:2002-03-03 Margate City, NJ clubs:	Re: If you cap it,they will download it I wasn't just talking TV. I was talking about pirating in general.
	permalink · 2007-09-14 18:26:54 ·

ross join:2000-08-16 ·Digizip	Re: If you cap it,they will download it said by TK Junk Mail : I wasn't just talking TV. I was talking about pirating in general. I understood exactly what you had to say. So did karlmarx.
	permalink · 2007-09-14 19:00:43 ·

antdude
A Ninja Ant
Premium,VIP
join:2001-03-25

said by karlmarx

Is OTA part really true? I have heard people still get DMCA'ed for sharing full episodes that can be seen and recorded OTA for free.

permalink · 2007-09-14 15:28:46 · Print ·

Morac

join:2001-08-30
Riverside, NJ

·Comcast

said by karlmarx

If the version you downloaded has all the commercials intact I would agree with you, but all downloaded shows (pay or pirated) have the commercials removed. The commercials are what makes the show free. When the commercials are removed it is no longer free and at that point it would be considered stealing.
--

The Comcast Disney Avatar has been retired.

permalink · 2007-09-14 15:50:28 · Print ·

Hehe @ssa.gov	Re: If you cap it,they will download it My VCR automatically skips commercials. I guess it is stealing? If I manually fast forward, am I stealing?
	permalink · 2007-09-14 16:57:16 ·

lrtc join:2004-06-05 Toronto	Re: If you cap it,they will download it Yes!
	permalink · 2007-09-14 17:46:50 ·

KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK

·Cox HSI

·AT&T Southwest

said by Hehe :

My VCR automatically skips commercials. I guess it is stealing?

If I manually fast forward, am I stealing?

YOU TERRORIST!!

j/k

Well sorta. Seriously, I think there are some types who think like that.
--
"Regulatory capitalism is when companies invest in lawyers, lobbyists, and politicians, instead of plant, people, and customer service." - former FCC Chairman William Kennard (A real FCC Chairman, unlike the current Corporate Spokesperson in the job!)

permalink · 2007-09-14 22:20:42 · Print ·

Corehhi

join:2002-01-28
Bluffton, SC

These shows are on TV for free. The fact that you want to watch them at a different time doesn't do anything. I use to work at night and I video taped shows every night. That is legal. What's the difference in taping the shows yourself or going on the internet and getting a copy of it? Those TV shows really don't have any replay value anyways. In a lot of cases I think it actually gets more viewers to tune into something they don't normally watch.

permalink · 2007-09-14 13:01:56 ·

AquaBlaze Premium join:2004-02-02 Encino, CA	Re: If you cap it,they will download it said by Corehhi : In a lot of cases I think it actually gets more viewers to tune into something they don't normally watch. Totally agree. There are many recommended TV shows I've seen on the various streaming content outlets online that I would've never picked up on otherwise.
	permalink · 2007-09-14 13:15:39 ·

Sammer

join:2005-12-22
Pittsburgh, PA

said by Corehhi

:

What's the difference in taping the shows yourself or going on the internet and getting a copy of it? Those TV shows really don't have any replay value anyways. In a lot of cases I think it actually gets more viewers to tune into something they don't normally watch.

A Supreme Court ruling (Disney vs. Betamax) is the difference between taping the shows off the air for your own personal use and getting them off the internet. Since NBC charges sponsors when it airs reruns (admittedly less) it would certainly argue that there is replay value.

permalink · 2007-09-14 14:32:18 · Print ·

compton

join:2002-02-08
Brooklyn, NY

Re: If you cap it,they will download it

said by Sammer

said by Corehhi

You are correct. Taping a show for your own personal use is legal. If you share that show over the Internet then you are no longer using it for personal use; therefore, you are breaking the copyright agreement. Also, stripping out the commercials are illegal. There was a law that passed about 3 years ago making it illegal for DVD and VCR recorders sold in the United States to have the ability to skip commercials when recording. They can have features that can skip over the commercials when fast forwarding, but they can't bypass the recording of those commercials.

permalink · 2007-09-14 22:03:52 · Print ·

grandpinaple join:2006-01-03 New York, NY	Re: If you cap it,they will download it Because if the Supreme Court says so it must be true.
	permalink · 2007-09-14 22:33:46 ·

AquaBlaze
Premium
join:2004-02-02
Encino, CA

said by TK Junk Mail

:

And I disagree. As long as it is free, no level of quality and low price will satisfy most pirates. Their belief that they are entitled to everything for free is the major driving force in their selfish philosophy of life.

But what's the financial harm in this venture? If only 5% of pirates download a high quality, DRM-free, and correctly priced video file...isn't that making more than the whopping 0% of pirated film "losses" that they're getting now?

It just really sucks that the people willing to pay for entertainment (ie. their paying customers) get a shoddier product than the bootleggers peddle around for free.

permalink · 2007-09-14 13:08:13 · Print ·

Nightfall
My Goal Is To Deny Yours
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Grand Rapids, MI
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·Site5.com

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Re: If you cap it,they will download it

said by AquaBlaze

said by TK Junk Mail

I agree with you that these products should be free of DRM and such protection. There has to be a competitive price point by the makers of music, games, and movies to make it worthwhile to purchase.

I remember when DVD movies were being ripped and distributed on P2P. DVDs were very reasonably priced and had a ton of extras. People were saying that the MPAA were doing something right by including a lot of extras in their product to sell it. Even today, DVDs are doing well with this model.

The problem is that pirates will always feel like they are entitled to something for nothing. Even if the price was just a couple bucks, a lot of pirates would still take it. There has to be stiff penalties in store for people who do break the law in situations like this. To say that its ok to acceptable for 95% of the people to take your product with a cheaper price and no DRM than 100% for a higher priced product isn't a winning proposal for a business.

permalink · 2007-09-14 13:30:30 · Print ·

Ahrenl

join:2004-10-26
North Andover, MA

·Verizon FIOS

Re: If you cap it,they will download it

The problem is the blanket use of the word "pirates". Some people are talking about the people who have been doing this for 10-20 years, and will not change. Other's are talking about everyone who has ever or will ever download copyrighted content. Most People who have or would consider pirating, would rather get the content through a legit service. Provided equal quality the content creators have the following potential advantages:
1. Ease of use
2. Ease of locating
3. Ability to distribute
4. No worry of data integrity (Virus/Trojan/etc.)

I've been VERY disappointed with the re-broadcast offering of the major networks. (and I have an HTPC already setup). Thank god I have a DVR, or I would watch 0% of their shows.

permalink · 2007-09-14 13:54:18 · Print ·

AquaBlaze
Premium
join:2004-02-02
Encino, CA

Re: If you cap it,they will download it

said by Ahrenl

:

Most People who have or would consider pirating, would rather get the content through a legit service.

Bingo. I'd support more legit distribution services if they weren't starting to load themselves with more useless DRM bloat. Take a look at the continuing Sony DRM fiasco(s). There's no way in hell I'd buy another disc, as I'm not about to jeopardize my computer with their crapware.

permalink · 2007-09-14 14:08:49 · Print ·

AquaBlaze
Premium
join:2004-02-02
Encino, CA

said by Nightfall

:

To say that its ok to acceptable for 95% of the people to take your product with a cheaper price and no DRM than 100% for a higher priced product isn't a winning proposal for a business.

True...but there's two major problems in the marketplace:

A.) Pirates *will* always defeat any amount of DRM a company puts forth.

B.) The more they DRM up their legit products to counteract the inevitibility of A., they begin impeding with customer's fair use. (ie. see the Bioshock PC-game release fiasco)

Basically, these production companies are investing major bucks to effectively piss off their paying customers, and pirates are still getting away with the media they seek to protect. Locks just keep honest people honest. Sticking with some simplistic DRM keeps your average Joe Blow from bootlegging with ease, yet also enables your tech savvy paying customers to still support your venture.

DVDs are the penultimate "happy medium" with piracy. They're cheap enough (and loaded with extras) to make piracy trivial to most, yet simple enough to keep the entry-level techie coming back for more.

permalink · 2007-09-14 14:06:38 · Print ·

Nightfall
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Grand Rapids, MI
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Re: If you cap it,they will download it

said by AquaBlaze

said by Nightfall

:

To say that its ok to acceptable for 95% of the people to take your product with a cheaper price and no DRM than 100% for a higher priced product isn't a winning proposal for a business.

I 100% agree with you. The problem is that I believe that DRM as a whole is a hastle as it is. IMHO, they should do away with it entirely. As you said, pirating has been around as a whole for years and years. There is no stopping it. The only way to reduce it is to make the product affordable, make it widely available, and not protect it.

At the same time though, there has to be stiff penalties for people who are caught pirating. It can't be the 300 pound elephant in the closet that no one talks about because its always going to be around.

permalink · 2007-09-14 15:44:12 · Print ·

davoice

join:2000-08-12
Saxapahaw, NC

·RoadRunner Cable

said by TK Junk Mail

And when is the last time you bought a bottle of water instead of taking and cup and getting "free" water out of the spiggot?

When things come with a value or convenience proposition, people will gladly pay. Just ask Coke and Pepsi who now sell more bottles of water globally than of their respective signature soda.

}Davoice

permalink · 2007-09-14 15:04:06 · Print ·

TechieZero Tools Are Using Me Premium join:2002-01-25 Wesley Chapel, FL	I agree w/ swhx7. Downloading it under the table, is usually crappy quality and time consuming. If it had a decent production value, easy and timely...I would pay for it.
	permalink · 2007-09-14 15:20:33 ·

jc100

join:2002-04-10

·RoadRunner Cable

Pretty much. Piracy has been around since the Cassette Player and VCR. People would put a piece of tape over the copyright part and dub one for their friend. With the advent of the VCR, one could record their favorite shows and edit out commercials. Sure, these were the rudimentary days of the 1980s where each copy meant worse and worse quality. I remember watching movies as a kid that were 2nd and 3rd generation VHS. Granted, in the 1980's, quality didn't mean digital and we used rabbit ears. Anyone who was a kid in the 1980s or before knows exactly what I'm talking about. The problem arises now that copies don't degrade each go around. Digital means the first or the 100th are the same. So what does one do? My opinion, the industries need to embrace piracy vs fight it. For example, we all can record t.v. shows whether through tivo or dvr. Hence, to charge people for this content is ludicrous. Therefore, I believe that the T.V. industry should adopt sort of a blind eye policy. In this respect, they will not pursue people who do not disseminate their property. If someone pirates their t.v. show, they promise not to take legal action as long as the commercials remain in it. While this is not the most ideal solution, it guarantees that those who sponsor their shows still are allotted some face time. My 2 cents.

permalink · 2007-09-14 13:54:51 · Print ·

MightyPez

join:2002-05-01
Saint Paul, MN

·Comcast

It's INSANELY easy

Using a popular tracker and an RSS feed, one can easily get a show a couple hours after it first airs. No dealing with third party software to view the content, no restrictions, and in a format you can choose.

I actually used the Amazon video player last night for the first time to download the early preview for the first episode of NBC's "Chuck". It's wasn't a terribly pleasant experience. I had to do a one click purchase, they emailed me a link to get the lousy Amazon video player/downloader, and it took hours to get it downloaded. Not only that, but I can ONLY view the WMV file in that Amazon player (and possibly WMP, I never tested it). Personally, I like watching shows streamed to my Xbox Media Center on my nice television, not crouched in front of a computer monitor.

I'm not trying to advocate copyright infringement or "screw big companies!", but media corporations really need to get on the ball with this. Worried about piracy? Make it easy, affordable, and open to use.

permalink · 2007-09-14 11:39:26 · Print ·

ncbill Premium join:2007-01-23 Winston Salem, NC	Re: It's INSANELY easy I use Unbox, but with my Tivos, not with a computer. That's convenient enough for me, especially the $0.99 movie specials.
	permalink · 2007-09-14 12:37:58 ·

NPGMBR join:2001-03-28 Arlington, VA	Re: It's INSANELY easy Really, I have had TiVo for about 4 years now and Never treid Unbox but I think its a recen thing. I don't use it because the downloads are typically 4 to 5 bucks which is too costly. How do you find the .99 stuff? Thanks
	permalink · 2007-09-14 13:39:47 ·

ncbill Premium join:2007-01-23 Winston Salem, NC	Re: It's INSANELY easy "Special deals" under the Unbox section of the Tivo. Special deals change from week to week - sometimes there are none.
	permalink · 2007-09-15 08:54:09 ·

NPGMBR join:2001-03-28 Arlington, VA	Re: It's INSANELY easy Thanks. I enver explored Unbox but will definitely give it a try. Thanks
	permalink · 2007-09-15 09:25:34 ·

RARPSL

join:1999-12-08
Suffern, NY

said by MightyPez

:

I actually used the Amazon video player last night for the first time to download the early preview for the first episode of NBC's "Chuck". It's wasn't a terribly pleasant experience. I had to do a one click purchase, they emailed me a link to get the lousy Amazon video player/downloader, and it took hours to get it downloaded. Not only that, but I can ONLY view the WMV file in that Amazon player (and possibly WMP, I never tested it). Personally, I like watching shows streamed to my Xbox Media Center on my nice television, not crouched in front of a computer monitor.

If you go to your local Blockbuster, you can rent a preview DVD with the Chuck Pilot (as well as Pilots for Journeyman and Life plus a promo for Bionic Woman) for a few dollars. You do not need to return it for 2 weeks and can watch on your TV.

permalink · 2007-09-14 17:30:47 · Print ·

dadkins Merry Whatever Premium,MVM join:2003-09-26 Hercules, CA ·Comcast edit: September 14th, @11:43AM	Restrictions/DRM vs Clean File? What would most people rather have? A legal but restricted & DRMed file? OR A downloaded clean file that they could use without possible system damage by DRM/restriction schemes? Hmmm... -- Think outside the Fox... Opera
	permalink · 2007-09-14 11:42:17 ·

See 6 replies to this post

Sabre
Di relung hatiku bernyanyi bidadari

join:2005-05-17

·Comcast

Ease of use matters.

This points out a big point, even beyond the "free" arguments of piracy: user-friendliness.

I'm constantly amazed, working in an IT environment, at the awfulness of software engineering in general. Companies pay so much for specialised software to serve their needs, that frankly is written like crap. Terrible interfaces, nearly impossible to learn to use. The same problems seem to affect much of the consumer software industry, this sort of software included. The "official" media downloading software, as mentioned elsewhere here, is almost always slammed as being hard to use and difficult to understand. Meanwhile, a custom-designed app by hackers works better.

No wonder people'd rather use that.
--
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.

Save American Soccer - Stop the MLS!

permalink · 2007-09-14 12:10:15 · Print ·

dadkins Merry Whatever Premium,MVM join:2003-09-26 Hercules, CA ·Comcast	Re: Ease of use matters. I have a "few" different media players. The downloads from legal sources are sometimes restricted to "Their" player. Uhm... no. When I download a media file from "other sources", trust me, I can play it fine. It's all about which player to use. -- Think outside the Fox... Opera
	permalink · 2007-09-14 12:51:41 ·

Doctor Four My other vehicle is a TARDIS Premium join:2000-09-05 Dallas, TX ·AT&T U-Verse ·RoadRunner Cable ·AT&T Yahoo	Napster, Part 2 Seems the video content industry is following in the same footsteps the music industry did with Napster. The alternatives they are offering are doing nothing to compete with pirated content, which is easier to use, free, and often better quality. -- "The trouble with computers, of course, is that they are very sophisticated idiots." - Doctor Who (from Robot)
	permalink · 2007-09-14 12:25:27 ·

Corehhi join:2002-01-28 Bluffton, SC	Re: Napster, Part 2 You saying Itunes isn't working out?
	permalink · 2007-09-14 13:04:32 ·

jjoshua
Premium
join:2001-06-01
Scotch Plains, NJ

·Comcast

High quality and DRM free

I want to download the file to my file server and play it using MythTV. That means good quality and no DRM.

To the original topic... Online services won't even sell this to me. Pirate sites have exactly what I require and it's free. If I was going to get content from the internet, which would I choose?

If this content were offered at a fair price, then not only would people pay for it, but I doubt that people would share it.

permalink · 2007-09-14 12:26:28 ·

fcisler
Premium
join:2004-06-14
Riverhead, NY

Plain and simple

Why a pay service doesn't interest me:

-I can get a HD quality (768) episode of...oh...lets say Family Guy. Does iTunes offer me that?
-As a sub point to that - even if I purchase the DVD - it's not HD!
-Companies think that a very compressed low quality video will cut it. I download 20+ GB HD DVD/Blu-ray rips - I want the option of a very good quality show/movie.
-NO DRM! I'm NOT watching it embedded in your website or player. I have a TV computer, a PDA, a phone and possible a DVD. I want to be able to go back and forth between them, and use it in a format which is convenient to me.
-Standard format. XviD, mkv, DivX, MP4 - I don't care...as long as your not going to use WMV or real (or any other format which I cannot easily obtain a codec for and transcode to any format I want)

Again....what does a pay service (amazon, iTuned) provide that I should care about? I have firewire from my DVR to my computer. I can record any show I want. Why should I pay them again?

permalink · 2007-09-14 12:29:44 · Print ·

hopeflicker
Capitalism breeds greed
Premium
join:2003-04-03
Long Beach, CA

Re: Plain and simple

I also feel that these "ones and zeros" that pass through my cable/dsl modem should not be illegal when those exact same "ones and zeros" that pass through my STB are completely legal.

And if you are gonna cry about the "well the content provider is not making money when you dl from the web" scenario, then what say you when i skip the commercials VIA my cable company owned DVR?

It just doesn't make sense.
--
People pray to God because they're told to.

permalink · 2007-09-14 12:56:47 ·

dadkins
Merry Whatever
Premium,MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA

·Comcast

Re: Plain and simple

Skipping commercials...
I have a VCR(yeah a VCR!) with this neat button on the remote - "Commercial Skip".

Can anyone tell me what that button is used for?

OTA shows(network programming) has been paid in full, PERIOD!
Now if I download a network show, WTF is so bad about that?

The program was paid in full when it was aired, I am paying for my internet connection(Hello! Comcast?) and the source is paying someone as well.

So, there is this paid in full show that it costing ME and THE SOURCE for transport.

Bitch Bitch Bitch is all I am hearing from these sniveling pay sites.

--
Think outside the Fox... Opera

permalink · 2007-09-14 13:05:35 · Print ·

dadkins Merry Whatever Premium,MVM join:2003-09-26 Hercules, CA ·Comcast	Damn Right! I have two laptops that are DVRs(TV tuner, MPEG2 recording). I have several editing softwares that make short work of nuking commercials. A couple can export in a variety of formats... Or, Download whatever and... Sony ClicktoDVD? Gee! How much easier can it get? LOL! -- Think outside the Fox... Opera
	permalink · 2007-09-14 12:58:19 ·

Drakemoore

join:2005-02-03
Hawthorne, FL

My view

If companies put their content for online viewers to watch with advertisements then there would be much less trouble with people pirating things..

I wouldn't mind viewing episodes online and have to watch ads as long as the ads were not too intrusive. At least I wouldn't be shelling out $100 for a freaking season dvd set or forced to buy their over priced episodes online.

Content providers always blame pirating for everything however often it's the providers own faults because they will not adapt to changing times.

Recently a few TV networks have started to put content online with the method I just stated. However they only put their top rating shows and episodes which annoys the hell out of me because I would love to see some of their other shows..

permalink · 2007-09-14 12:52:10 · Print ·

If you cap it,they will download it

Re: If you cap it,they will download it

Re: If you cap it,they will download it

Re: If you cap it,they will download it

Re: If you cap it,they will download it

Re: If you cap it,they will download it

Re: If you cap it,they will download it

Re: If you cap it,they will download it

Re: If you cap it,they will download it

Re: If you cap it,they will download it

Re: If you cap it,they will download it

Re: If you cap it,they will download it

Re: If you cap it,they will download it

Re: If you cap it,they will download it

Re: If you cap it,they will download it

Re: If you cap it,they will download it

Re: If you cap it,they will download it

Re: If you cap it,they will download it

Re: If you cap it,they will download it

It's INSANELY easy

Re: It's INSANELY easy

Re: It's INSANELY easy

Re: It's INSANELY easy

Re: It's INSANELY easy

Restrictions/DRM vs Clean File?

Ease of use matters.

Re: Ease of use matters.

Napster, Part 2

Re: Napster, Part 2

High quality and DRM free

Plain and simple

Re: Plain and simple

Re: Plain and simple

My view