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Everyone Is Stealing TV

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Re: Everyone Is Stealing TV

#81
post #4

I too got tired of paying so much for TV so I canceled and just stopped watching it. I find the attitude that one is entitled to entertainment media fascinating. People like to say that it’s not stealing because there is no physical product the producer is being deprived of, which is factually true, but even so why are you entitled to it at no cost? NFL games aren’t water or food.

Entertainment we watch becomes part of our culture. It is absorbed and forms part of our thoughts. It becomes part of our self, and more often than not that part is owned by someone else. NFL is a great example. It is part of shared American culture. Of course people are pissed when someone wants to charge rent on some part of their identity. The rights are very much on the side of producers, and not enough on the side of consumer rights. Maybe society will address this and grant itself the rights it seems to want.

Re: Everyone Is Stealing TV

#82
post #24

"There are no 6K TVs available for sale to consumers" This seems to be incorrect. What about the Samsung TQ65QN900FTXXC, which is claimed to have a resolution of 7680 x 4320 (8K)?

I think the point the article wants to make is that specifically 6K isn't used by consumers, whereas indeed 4K and 8K are.

Re: Everyone Is Stealing TV

#83

The article buries the important part further down: These boxes are often used as botnet nodes and join residential proxy networks. The TV feature is a trojan horse to get it into your house. The high price makes it feel legitimate. More from Krebs: https://krebsonsecurity.com/2025/11/is-your-android-tv-strea...

Oh no, not residential proxy networks. Gasp.

I would much prefer a world where people installed communications privacy tools of their own volition, forming a critical mass of users that creates market pressure against companies that demand ever-invasive surveillance. But since that is apparently too much self-actualization to ask for, then I will settle for the world in which people are unwittingly induced to set up privacy tools for others, by dodgy companies promising free TV.

Re: Everyone Is Stealing TV

#84
post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> went around and made exclusive deals and forced us back into the same monthly amounts I've said this for years but most people probably don't watch more than 2 streamers / month every month. Pay for one month at a time and be pleasantly surprised at how many months you don't pay for 1 or more that you're paying for now.

Made me think, is there an opportunity to build a management layer for this? Handle subscribing and cancelling automatically when you want to watch certain things? Would probably be blocked pretty fast but amusing to think about.

There is an astute sibling comment by 'secretballot that is [dead]. Turn on showdead in your HN profile to see (/vouch) for it.

Re: Everyone Is Stealing TV

#85
post #4

I too got tired of paying so much for TV so I canceled and just stopped watching it. I find the attitude that one is entitled to entertainment media fascinating. People like to say that it’s not stealing because there is no physical product the producer is being deprived of, which is factually true, but even so why are you entitled to it at no cost? NFL games aren’t water or food.

I stopped watching all TV 2 years ago. Unfortunately my family won't let me cancel all our streaming apps.

Re: Everyone Is Stealing TV

#86
post #81
post #4

I too got tired of paying so much for TV so I canceled and just stopped watching it. I find the attitude that one is entitled to entertainment media fascinating. People like to say that it’s not stealing because there is no physical product the producer is being deprived of, which is factually true, but even so why are you entitled to it at no cost? NFL games aren’t water or food.

Entertainment we watch becomes part of our culture. It is absorbed and forms part of our thoughts. It becomes part of our self, and more often than not that part is owned by someone else. NFL is a great example. It is part of shared American culture. Of course people are pissed when someone wants to charge rent on some part of their identity. The rights are very much on the side of producers, and not enough on the si…

I grew bored with Television over 4 years ago, I bought a 86" Tv 4 years ago also and I've never cared enough to take it out of it's box. If I get bored enough I'll watch something using free streaming services. I just buy physical discs of anything I might want to watch. Friends tried to get me to watch football and other sports but it's just too boring. I know the rules but it's just people chasing a ball back and forth. To enjoy sports you have to care who wins, and I don't care, who wins or loses means nothing to me.

Re: Everyone Is Stealing TV

#87
post #4

I too got tired of paying so much for TV so I canceled and just stopped watching it. I find the attitude that one is entitled to entertainment media fascinating. People like to say that it’s not stealing because there is no physical product the producer is being deprived of, which is factually true, but even so why are you entitled to it at no cost? NFL games aren’t water or food.

In some areas, you can 'pirate' live TV directly from the sky! You need this thing called an 'antenna' which captures invisible radio waves and decodes them into a picture with audio. You can't pause or rewind, and you have to be in front of the TV at specific times, so it is not precis the same, but you can access TV this way.

Not ATSC 3.0 channels. People very far from large urban areas don't have many channels to choose from.

Re: Everyone Is Stealing TV

#88
I've read a few articles that claim a large part of the reason ATSC 3.0 is supported by broadcasters is the potential money to be made from marketing. All information about what you watch, and any personal details stored in the box, will be totally available to broadcasters. Supposedly they will be able to change the commercials shown to each viewer based on your information they get from the box. If your box has a dvr function they will able to change and update the commercials in any programs you have recorded. DRM is broadcasters way of finding more ways to sell people items or services they don't need or want.
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