Live data from Hacker News

If TV Companies Released Authorized Torrents With Ads, Would You Download Them?

techdirt.com

1–10 of 116 posts

Re: If TV Companies Released Authorized Torrents With Ads, Would You Download Them?

#2
Absolutely. I was recently kicked off my cable provider's ISP for excessive DMCA violations (torrenting) after DVRing and their OnDemand services proved too shoddy to actually watch. (And I forgot to DVR one show, to be fair. That one's completely on me.)

It seems that they could ask you to sign in to a service, offer free show in segments, and build in local (or at least relative) advertisements.

I'm told web ads cost less than traditional ads. With growing numbers watching plus interactivity, I don't get that. But even so, for generations TV has made its job to take in insane amounts of money on the back of free programming. I find it amazing that given the ability to spread their show faster and cheaper the more people watch it, they're now having trouble with this.

Please, let me give you my time and eyeballs. Stop suing because we want to watch the shows you've told us are available for free, our entire lives.

Re: If TV Companies Released Authorized Torrents With Ads, Would You Download Them?

#5
Yes, primarily because I wouldn't need multiple content subscription sources any more (HBO, Hulu, Netflix). Obviously I'm making some assumptions about how such a system would work, but I'd rather pick and choose content than pick and choose providers.

Re: If TV Companies Released Authorized Torrents With Ads, Would You Download Them?

#6
So long as the ads are a small portion of the video and the recording is high-quality, of course! I could probably even be talked into ignoring the equally high-quality rips without ads- I would love to encourage such a forward-thinking model.

Now, if we're talking 10 minutes of content and 20 minutes of advertising,... no.

Re: If TV Companies Released Authorized Torrents With Ads, Would You Download Them?

#8
post #2

Absolutely. I was recently kicked off my cable provider's ISP for excessive DMCA violations (torrenting) after DVRing and their OnDemand services proved too shoddy to actually watch. (And I forgot to DVR one show, to be fair. That one's completely on me.) It seems that they could ask you to sign in to a service, offer free show in segments, and build in local (or at least relative) advertisements. I'm told web ads co…

Stop suing because we want to watch the shows you've told us are available for free, our entire lives.

Amen. They should be thrilled their product is getting torrented so much- it means people like their product so much, they will commit crimes to get it. Few businesses are blessed with the problem of too many rabid fans.

Post reply on HN