Going to bat for the TV studios and networks, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) has sued six Bit Torrent directory sites specializing in TV shows. It has been my contention for several years that the TV industry is more vulnerable to utter destruction than either music or movies. The traditional model of broadcast TV—scheduled advertisements streaming into the home—is profoundly archaic in an on-demand world. While viable for current events like news and sports, and other programs with high community involvement, normal episodic scripted TV is long past due for a reinvention of its distribution. Obviously, flattening Bit Torrent directories will do nothing to slow the trend; never was there a more futile game of whack-a-mole.
MPAA Sues Bit Torrent TV Directories
Reader Comments
(Page 1)2. Ah yes - another professional trade group wants to have their cake and eat it too.
There is often a gap of 1 year or more between the conclusion of a series and the release of a DVD compilation (e.g., The Sopranos). I understand providing programming space for reruns but the delay is often excessive.
Hit shows seem to be a rarity and when they occur (e.g., Desperate Housewives, which I haven't seen) the networks respond by playing hide-and-seek with episode airings, pre-empting the shows with maddening regularity, etc. I know the season is 26 weeks and most shows film 13-15 episodes, but enough is enough. Viewers just want their shows and/or DVDs in a timely fashion. If the networks can't figure it out, they have nobody but themselves to blame.
Think about it: the broadcast/advertising/distribution model is broken and despite their fervent hopes the MPAA et al can't roll back the clock. A new, high-tech model of distribution has been developed independently WITHOUT THE NETWORKS HAVING TO SPEND A SINGLE DOLLAR! Are they so blinkered that they can't look at the pay-for-play MP3 sites and see some parallels and/or opportunities? 300 million potential viewers aren't worried about the VP of programming's new house in Oyster Bay. They want their shows and if offered quality and convenience they will gladly open their wallets.
Posted at 5:58AM on Dec 19th 2005 by Looking Forward
3. Ah yes - another professional trade group wants to have their cake and eat it too.
There is often a gap of 1 year or more between the conclusion of a series and the release of a DVD compilation (e.g., The Sopranos). I understand providing programming space for reruns but the delay is often excessive.
Hit shows seem to be a rarity and when they occur (e.g., Desperate Housewives, which I haven't seen) the networks respond by playing hide-and-seek with episode airings, pre-empting the shows with maddening regularity, etc. I know the season is 26 weeks and most shows film 13-15 episodes, but enough is enough. Viewers just want their shows and/or DVDs in a timely fashion. If the networks can't figure it out, they have nobody but themselves to blame.
Think about it: the broadcast/advertising/distribution model is broken and despite their fervent hopes the MPAA et al can't roll back the clock. A new, high-tech model of distribution has been developed independently WITHOUT THE NETWORKS HAVING TO SPEND A SINGLE DOLLAR! Are they so blinkered that they can't look at the pay-for-play MP3 sites and see some parallels and/or opportunities? 300 million potential viewers aren't worried about the VP of programming's new house in Oyster Bay. They want their shows and if offered quality and convenience they will gladly open their wallets.
Posted at 5:58AM on Dec 19th 2005 by Looking Forward
1. A solution is 'pay-per-production'.
You preview shows and invite each member of a show's audience to decide whether they want to pay for another episode.
This aggregate payment has to be large enough that the programme can then be released under a CC-NC-SA license.
Posted at 5:58AM on Dec 19th 2005 by Crosbie Fitch