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Battlestar Galactica Available for Download

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the free-starbucks dept.

blankgm writes "The SciFi channel has made Episode '33' (Season 1 Episode 1) of Battlestar Galactica available for free, uncut and commercial free, online at SciFi.com. Also available are deleted scenes from the series. Is this a ploy by the SciFi channel to grow a viewer base as well as loyalty, or an extremely bold move since the series isn't even out on DVD yet? Hopefully it's both. In either case, I believe this is unprecedented, especially since season 1 hasn't even concluded here in the states. Bravo SciFi. Keep 'em coming!"

5 of 357 comments (clear)

  1. For download? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    Looks awfully like streaming to me...

    1. Re:For download? by chronicon · · Score: 5, Informative
      If you hate RealPlayer for the ads, get the "crap-free" BBC version. This blog entry has the details.

      Or just jump over to the BBC now and get it:

      http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/audiohelp_install.shtml

      Available for Linux, Mac, Solaris, and Windows. Enjoy ad-free RealPlayer today! ;-)

    2. Re:For download? by Minna+Kirai · · Score: 5, Informative

      Perhaps I'm confused, but it's my understanding that it's NOT specifically illegal to record, and trade, television shows, provided that no money changes hands.

      Yes, you are confused. It's not specifically illegal, but dipping babies in vats of liquid mercury isn't specifically illegal either. One is a kind of copyright infringement, and the other is a kind of murder, and those two things are illegal.

      Whether you earn money directly is irrelevant, theoretically. (Exchanging cash money isn't really a factor for many definitions of criminality- besides prostitution). Practically, the exchange of money creates further legal jeopardy, because it leaves an undeniable trail of evidence, and the appearance of greed will make a jury less sympathetic to you.

      Even recording for your own use is a copyright infringement, except that it has been found to be a permissible Fair Use. However, if you watch it more than once, that's illegal again.

      and sharing recordings (which is akin to recording a show on your VCR and letting a friend borrow/copy the tape).

      Lending a VHS tape to a friend is illegal too, although it's such a minor offense that no one would bother to press charges. Because it's a slow process of physical transmission, you are unable to commit nearly as many illegal acts as a megabit P2P operation can. Digital data transmission renders the infringement fast enough to endanger the TV-advertising revenue model.

  2. direct link by castlec · · Score: 5, Informative

    the show

    --
    When I tell an object to delete this, am I killing it or telling it to kill me?
  3. Easiest and Best way by hardcoredreamer · · Score: 5, Informative

    If you're on windows, Real Alternative and MPC Media Player Classic will do the job without having to install evil realplayer.

    --
    I know a guy named Sig.