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How Battlestar Galactica Killed TV

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the death-to-the-infidels dept.

Don Melanson writes "Following up on the MPAA going after torrent sites, you may be interested in Mindjack's latest feature - Piracy is Good? How Battlestar Galactica Killed Broadcast TV by Mark Pesce. It includes a post-script written in reponse to the recent Torrent site shutdowns." From the article: "While you might assume the SciFi Channel saw a significant drop-off in viewership as a result of this piracy, it appears to have had the reverse effect: the series is so good that the few tens of thousands of people who watched downloaded versions told their friends to tune in on January 14th, and see for themselves. From its premiere, Battlestar Galactica has been the most popular program ever to air on the SciFi Channel, and its audiences have only grown throughout the first series. Piracy made it possible for 'word-of-mouth' to spread about Battlestar Galactica."

8 of 749 comments (clear)

  1. I remember it somewhat different.... by espergreen · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Hey! There is this really good show that just came out! You should download it off bittorrent too!"

    1. Re:I remember it somewhat different.... by skitz0 · · Score: 4, Funny

      In the future ugly has been cured (except for the pox marks all over adamas face).

      Looks like a lot of slashdotters are going to be extinct.

    2. Re:I remember it somewhat different.... by Provocateur · · Score: 5, Funny

      You're telling me...I remember the first time I saw Captain Picard's bald head, I thought, goddammit they haven't found a cure! I'm doomed!

      --
      WARNING: Smartphones have side effects--most of them undocumented.
  2. Re:What if... by dj42 · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Also, remember any publicity is good publicity." Well, yeah, but would you send your kids to Neverland Ranch to stay with MJ?

    --
    We are one consciousness experiencing itself subjectively. Back to you with the weather, Bob!
  3. Re:What if... by Em+Ellel · · Score: 5, Funny

    What would have happened if people had downloaded the show, watched it, hated it, and told their friends not to tune in? Viewing figures would be down, and piracy could be held accountable. This sort of result works both ways, folks

    What?! And encourage producers to make higher quality programming that people actually WANT to watch!?!? We just can't have that!

    --
    RelevantElephants: A Somatic WebComic...
  4. Re:Great Show by MrDomino · · Score: 4, Funny

    "Lisa, if we don't watch the commercials, it's like we're stealing TV!"

  5. Re:Great Show by bill_mcgonigle · · Score: 5, Funny

    In the Slashdot world it works like...
    1. Get high Nelson ratings.
    2. Charge more for commercials.
    3. Profit!

    In the Slashdot world there are plenty of Nelson ratings. Mostly it's geeks sitting on couches, pointing at dumb shows on TV and taunting, "Ha-Ha!". I recently Nelsoned Enterprise, for one.

    Unfortunately the rest of world isn't so clever and they have to go by Nielsen ratings.

    --
    My God, it's Full of Source!
    OUTSIDE_IP=$(dig +short my.ip @outsideip.net)
  6. Cure for male pattern baldness by GCP · · Score: 4, Funny

    I think they DID find a cure. Didn't Picard win the Sexiest Man Alive contest in People Magazine one year? The "cure" for male pattern baldness in the 23rd Century is apparently what it has always been: power, fame, or fortune.

    --
    "Those who have never entered upon scientific pursuits know not a tithe of the poetry by which they are surrounded."