Recording TV programmes online

Russ · 18-02-2005, 14:01

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4276255.stm

Let's move away from the legal issues here - is the above really a problem or is it indicative of the changing ways of the internet?

My view is that broadcasters no longer control how and when we watch our favourite programmes. If anyone should have a problem with this, I'd suggest it's the broadcasters not keeping up to date with the consumer's lifestyle choices.

It's like downloading music - the music industry has for too long (IMO) dictated we are only to have access to limited tracks and on CD. This is wrong and does not reflect people's lifestyle in 2005.

bob_builder · 18-02-2005, 14:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by BBC

British TV viewers lead the trend of illegally downloading US shows from the net, according to research.

This is not particularly suprising. If the shows were shown in the UK at the same time as the US (or at least very soon afterwards) I doubt most of these downloads would occur. But six months later is a joke!

In the old days it would take a long time to convert a NTSC TV programme into PAL but these days it can be done in real-time so there is no excuse to leave it for so long between.

Stargate Atlantis is a good example of where this goes wrong - we are getting towards the end of the series will they all get killed of?
No, because they have already started filming the second series in the US!

Gareth · 18-02-2005, 14:36

The problem is that TV now only exists purely as an advertising medium, and that TV shows are only made for the gap between adverts. If you download a show, you're not being exposed to the messages the advertisers pay megabucks to display.

Even assuming you pay a subscription for the channel that (eventually) broadcasts the show you downloaded, the advertisers are still missing out as their potential audience is smaller, so they will be less inclined to pay for their 30 second slot between Scrubs, 24, Desperate Housewives, etc...

Gareth · 19-02-2005, 11:59

Hmm, guess this topic isn't as interesting to others as I thought it'd be. Have people here downloaded tv shows - is it any worse than downloading a Hollywood blockbuster... or downloading anything illegal?