Adult Swim To Offer Streaming Video Option

Julio Capote wrote to mention a press release making the rounds stating that Adult Swim will be allowing viewers to watch shows via streaming video. From the article: "Starting Sept. 16, AdultSwim.com will offer full-length episodes of these and other programs in an initiative Cartoon Network is calling Friday Night Fix. Each week between 11 p.m.-6 a.m. ET, a selection of current and fan-requested shows will be available for free viewing. There also will be previews of episodes scheduled to debut the next Sunday" The official Williams Street announcement is also available.

Comments

Cool!

[FlyByPC]

Cartoons are a lot more interesting (and more intellectually stimulating) than most of what's on TV these days.

Re:Cool!

[13bPower]

not ALL cartoons...

Re:Cool!

[boarder8925]

What, you mean watching Frylock battle it out with M.C. Peepants isn't interesting? =P

Re:Cool!

[fighting the wind]

I first thought it's a porn channel..
I'm not interested then.. heh.

Re:Cool!

[Deruwyn]

There are some situations where writers/producers/animators/whateverguys are better able to portray what they see in their head using cartoons and animated series. Some stories should just not be portrayed using Real Living People(tm). One very good example is the animated series Undergrads. There are lots of movies and tv shows about college life out there. Some are very good(ie Animal House, Revenge of the Nerds, American Pie etc.); but they all have this feeling of cheesyness to them that I can never shake off. You know what I mean. Most of these films about College life are usually marketed towards the 1.0-2.0 GPA average crowd who spend all their time Fucking Off like the characters in these movies. Apparently none of these people ever had to spend 150 hours working on a complier assignment that was worth 5% like a lot os us. Fuckers. College is about so much more than drinking and sex. Infact, since I was Canadian AND good looking the drinking+sex parts were the easiest!!! Getting to the point; these movies never seem to cover it all. College is about growing up and finding your place in the world. Inspirational shizznit. Like learning how to do your own Dam! Laundry and cooking. Those are the single most important things I learned there. But They are never covered. Then one day I was busy reminising about College so I flipped on this show called Undergrads. Within minites I am slobbering all over the floor; desiring more after watching the ending credits. Here ends my rant. Laterz to all you Gimpies out there :p

Re:Cool!

[klept]

Couldnt agree with you more. This sounds like lots of fun.

Re:Cool!

[Anonymous Coward]

haha cool I thouhgt I was the only one that ever watched (and enjoyed) that show.

Re:Cool!

[TheoMurpse]

since I was Canadian AND good looking the drinking+sex parts were the easiest!

Oh, come on. You know that being Canadian cancels out "good-looking".

as Master Shake would say

[Anonymous Coward]

Everyone please, bow your heads, and pretend to be serious.

Re:as Master Shake would say

[kaptainsunshine]

Nice try, but that is not a Shake quote. You can thank the Mooninites for that one.

Re:as Master Shake would say

[Anonymous Coward]

ooops, I'm drunk.

I am Ignignot, and this is Ur.

I am Ur!

yay

[Anonymous Coward]

Go Team Venture!

I wouldn't want to be the one...

[dotdan]

...who has to foot the cost of the bandwidth bill.

Re:I wouldn't want to be the one...

[Rosyna]

AOL.

But seriously, what format is this stream going to be in? I'd hate for it to be in Windows Media, since only Windows can stream that well (WiMP for OS X sucks).

Re:I wouldn't want to be the one...

[nich0las]

I just got the most recent issue of macworld

*goes to look for link*
Flip4Mac

You will have to fork over $10, but it will give you the abliity to play wmv files in quicktime.
Hope that helps!

Re:I wouldn't want to be the one...

[nich0las]

Actually, the link I posted before is misleading. I just did a quick search and didn't read the article. The product I saw in the magazine was for the bare bones player, not the studio pro or anything. You can get a better feel for what they are offering from the flip4mac site:
Just get the WMV player

Re:I wouldn't want to be the one...

[Anonymous Coward]

You must have missed the ads...

Re:I wouldn't want to be the one...

[Duct Tape Jedi]

Actually I did,thank you ad-block.

Re:I wouldn't want to be the one...

[generic-man]

It doesn't look like Flip4Mac can stream WMV content, which is what Adult Swim plans to do. For that you still have to use Windows Media Player for Mac, a product which works about as well as its name might suggest.

welcome

[42Penguins]

...our new robot chicken overlords?

Re:welcome

[Anonymous Coward]

Welcome nothing - I thought we already elected one of them as US President.

ouch, my aching bandwidth

[infonography]

I guess I don't need to do any online games on friday night anyway. [sniff]

Re:ouch, my aching bandwidth

[mrchaotica]

Adult Swim isn't on on Friday nights. It runs Saturday-Thursday.

Re:ouch, my aching bandwidth

[mrchaotica]

...which, of course, is why they picked Friday nights for the webcast!

(whew -- I sure saved that one! I almost looked really stupid there...)

Re:ouch, my aching bandwidth

[infonography]

Don't sweat it.

wow

[gcnaddict]

an almost legal source for pirating TV shows...

Re:wow

[blinksilver]

You are not pirating anything(sorry), unless using a VCR pirating.

Now if you were to distribute it, then it would be something different.

Same episode, day after day

[ReformedExCon]

The thing that gets me about the Cartoon Network, and the reason I don't watch it (besides the fact that I'm an adult), is that it replays the same episode over and over ad nauseum. I suppose the episodes update week by week, but that's hardly fast enough.

This is why I like network television rather than cable. The shows are spaced out so that you don't get the same show twice in one week (except for syndicated shows, but that's not really a concern for primetime), and the shows do not repeat themselves until the next season at the earliest.

Which all makes this latest streaming content thing all the more attractive. Now I can watch the episodes I want without having to actually watch the channel. I don't know how they will make any money off of advertisers, but that's not my problem.

Re:Same episode, day after day

[NuShrike]

This is why I have a TiVo and only watch what I want to watch. The repeats of shows, including SciFi channel, are absolutely great for us DVR people because it helps in the time conflict management.

Besides, Cartoon Network is a mix of lot of anime and adult-themed shows that have a bit more thinking involved than your usual 'adult' realty shows.

Re:Same episode, day after day

[LinuxInDallas]

Since when is animated a synonym for child-like? However, I did agree with you on the repetition of the shows. Of course, the Science Channel and Discovery Channel has the same problem.

Re:Same episode, day after day

[Ghost_MH]

No clue...Some people seem to believe they are not allowed to enjoy a medium once they get past a certain age. Perhaps they're afraid someone will burst through their living room door and laugh at them Nelson style.

I find it even funnier when you realize ReformedExCon is replying to a thread about Adult Swim...I mean, if you're afraid liking animation will leave you looked down upon by your peers, it may be best not to bash the animated series of TV's most popular late night programming block for adults ages 18-34. Hell...If you count Adult Swim as a separate entity and wholly independent channel as Cartoon Network has Adult Swim listed with Nielsen, Adult Swim is the most popular cable channel for adults ages 18-34...For both men and women...WooHoo!!! for being too mature to enjoy animation.

Re:Same episode, day after day

[Duct Tape Jedi]

HAHA

Re:Same episode, day after day

[Anonymous Coward]

God was my Co-Pilot but I crashed in the mountains.
And had to eat him.

What is Adult Swim?

[pwnage]

Is it some kind of water-fetish pr0n channel? Chicks in swimcaps and such?

Re:What is Adult Swim?

[fr0z3nph03n1x]

That is just dumb. You could have at least typed it into Google.

Re:What is Adult Swim?

[Anonymous Coward]

Adult swim is Cartoon Networks 'Mature' programming block.

Re:What is Adult Swim?

[The Journalist]

Wikipedia has a good write-up on Adult Swim.

The phrase itself actually originates from a call at community pools. Basically, the lifeguards would shout "Adult Swim" to remove the kids and the adults would have their own predetermined time to swim. Cartoon Network used this same concept in the selection that originally aired 2 September 2001 (thanks, Wiki!).

Re:What is Adult Swim?

[Anonymous Coward]

you didn't know that they said that at pools? wtf, you need to get out more. seriously

Streaming video?

[suitepotato]

Yeah, they have obviously missed the fact that much of their content could be done start to finish in Flash starting with Aqua Teen Hunger Force. For much of their lineup, 30fps video is massive overkill. Heck, some of it could be sent out as a flip-book without losing anything and quite possibly improving on it.

Re:Streaming video?

[teknomage1]

Actually, it is done in flash, then exported to video. My friend "animates" Harvey Birdman. Flash is the future of low budget 2d animation for sure. A couple o fshows on Nickolodeon are done in flash as well.

Re:Streaming video?

[ajservo]

Please, by all means, point out some form of modern animation that isn't done on computers so luddites can go worship it.

Flash, Toon Boom Studio, Illustrator, After Effects, and Combustion are your future of 2D animation.

Don't like it? Disney's releasing their old animated fare at a pretty steady clip.

Re:Streaming video?

[mrchaotica]

It's not doing the animation in computers that's the problem, it's cutting costs so much that you can tell it's cheap that's the problem. For example, I have no doubt that at least some of Cowboy Bebop is done using computers, but its artwork is infinitely better than any of the Williams Street stuff.

Re:Streaming video?

[ErichTheWebGuy]

If I'm not mistaken, Mucha Lucha, Teen Titans, Kids Next Door, and several other "mainstream" cartoon network shows are produced in Flash as well.

Re:Streaming video?

[evilviper]

Yeah, they have obviously missed the fact that much of their content could be done start to finish in Flash starting with Aqua Teen Hunger Force.

Does Macromedia have a live, realtime streaming software for Flash? Does Macromedia have a program that will automatically convert (preferably in realtime) from video to Flash? No? Guess it's not a very good option for this task, then.

Besides, modern video codecs are very effecient at encoding animation to very low bitrates. They could be streaming cartoons at 100K and almost nobody would notice the difference (I would know because I've done it).

For much of their lineup, 30fps video is massive overkill.

Most newer codecs support variable FPS, so where the content needs 30fps for the motion to be smooth, it can use it, and still only use 0.1fps where everything is still.

Besides, do you really think the only thing they will be streaming is the animation? You don't think they're going to have some (live-action) commercials mixed in there with the animation?

Heck, some of it could be sent out as a flip-book without losing anything and quite possibly improving on

I look forward to hearing your explanation as to how a flip book could POSSIBLY be an improvement over video.

I really hate /. moderations lately. IMHO you deserve perhaps a "-1 Banal" or "-1 Uninsightful" rating for this.

Re:Streaming video?

[climbon321]

You make it sound as if the fact that their animation isn't the best ever it hurts the show. I think tv shows like much of the adult swim lineup, south park, ect. just go to show how little flashy graphics or expensive special effects matter to a show. The writing and humor is what people turn in for, not the detail to which the main character is drawn.

Re:Streaming video?

[ilyaaohell]

I wonder, is usage of Flash inversely proportional to the quality of the show? I remember how in the early 90s cartoons were actually GOOD. Disney Afternoon was top-notch animated entertainment. Today's cartoons are basically either really dumb action fests with irrelevant storylines or Internet humor-style comedies made for college students. Either way, most of them look incredibly cheap (hooray Flash!).

Where is this generation's Duck Tales? Gargoyles? Chip and Dale's Rescue Rangers? The non-anime version of Batman? Tale Spin? Hell, I'd even take Darkwing Duck over some of today's crap. They're not just saving money by using Flash, they're saving it by hiring shit writers and directors.

I'm just glad Cartoon Network still airs Tom & Jerry. Still the best cartoon series by leaps and bounds.

Re:Streaming video?

[Anonymous Coward]

because the continual repetition of the owner leaves for the day and the cat tries to eat the mouse + random physical comedy is THE BEST WRITING EVER.

Re:Streaming video?

[teknomage1]

Teen Titans is not flah, it is still storyboarded here, then shipped off to pencilled in Korea.

Re:Streaming video?

[Anonymous Coward]

First of all, to answer your question re: where did tale spin, duck tales, etc go, they are on the Toon Disney channel. On my Adelphia lineup, that's channel 117.

Second of all, I watch cartoons with my son regularly, and I strongly disagree. Some of the funniest shows I have ever seen are my son's favorites. Ed, Edd & Eddy is *crazy* funny, and actually has something resembling a plot. I also like The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy (funny), Kids Next Door (funny, esp. the "slamwich" episode and it usually has a plot), and Teen Titans (good drama, kickass plot, good graphics, etc.)

Have you ever sat down and watched any of the modern cartoon-network cartoons with an open mind? If you watch it with a "anything that wasn't made when i was a kid sucks" filter, then well, anything that wasn't made when you were a kid sucks.

Re:Streaming video?

[ultranova]

Does Macromedia have a live, realtime streaming software for Flash? Does Macromedia have a program that will automatically convert (preferably in realtime) from video to Flash? No? Guess it's not a very good option for this task, then.

No streaming video I've seen has ever managed to play without skipping, so I'd have to conclude that non-streaming, download-and-watch video would propably be the best option for this task.

I look forward to hearing your explanation as to how a flip book could POSSIBLY be an improvement over video.

Flip book is video. All those fancy film projectors are just cheap (okay, expensive) knockoffs of flipbooks. Flipbooks are what drove home the idea that "hey, if you show pictures that don't differ from each other much in a sequence fast enough, people will see them not as separate pictures but as motion".

Flipbooks are supreme, because they are the one, original thing and everything else is just pirating the intellectual property that rightfully forever belongs to the inventors of flipbooks, despite them being centuries dead - and, as we all know, piracy is theft and much worse than murder. That, and they have no unskippable commercials telling me so.

Re:Streaming video?

[ultranova]

Actually, it is done in flash, then exported to video. My friend "animates" Harvey Birdman. Flash is the future of low budget 2d animation for sure. A couple o fshows on Nickolodeon are done in flash as well.

I've tried to do animation using SVG and Inkscape, but that has turned out to be a truly horrendous task. It's a pity, really - the format itself seems well-suited for animation, apart from some oddities (like storing path control points in a string rather than XML tags of their own). Having an infinite resolution in both time and space (the animation is time-key-based, so you can interpolate as many frames as wanted between keypoints, and of course vector graphics can be scaled freely) is a very nice feature...

Any change that we'll be seeing open-source SVG animation tools ?

Re:Streaming video?

[Strange Ranger]

Agreed. The only thing on Adult Swim that doesn't make me want to shoot my TV is Cowboy Bebop.
Which of course is outstanding.

Re:Streaming video?

[Anonymous Coward]

The cartoons are based on the script and dialogue of the characters. There's a big joke about them recording a video of a fire and they use it all the time. The same exact one. That's part of the appeal.

Re:Streaming video?

[Anonymous Coward]

no wonder it's so shit

Re:Streaming video?

[The Original Yama]

Cowboy Bebop is only half as good in the dubbed form that Cartoon Network airs. A lot gets lost in the translation (tone of voice, etc.). IMHO shows should be broadcast in the manner in which they were originally intended.

Are people really so illiterate as to prefer an inferior dub over a sub? Why do the networks insult our intelligence so?

Re:Streaming video?

[Haeleth]

I remember how in the early 90s cartoons were actually GOOD. Disney Afternoon was top-notch animated entertainment.

Have you considered that in the early 90s you were 10-15 years younger than you are now?

It's possible that the quality of cartoons has plummeted. But it's just as likely that all that's happened is that your tastes have matured, so you no longer like new kids' shows, but the old stuff still looks golden because nostalgia has kicked in.

Re:Streaming video?

[WWWWolf]

I've tried to do animation using SVG and Inkscape, but that has turned out to be a truly horrendous task.

Yeah, Inkscape has no animation support tools whatsoever, and... hey... did anybody mention anything about playing the animations? I haven't been able to find any OSS SVG animation player that would support any of the possible animation methods I can think of (Javascript/DOM, SVG declarative, SMIL).

And, for example, I'm definitely happy that Firefox will support SVG soon, just that my joy was more than slightly dented by the fact that Mozilla SVG doesn't support declarative animations! (I think it does DOM though, which is Painful to Work With compared to other methods.)

Re:Streaming video?

[Anonymous Coward]

Ed, Edd & Eddy has... no plot. Whatsoever. Don't even joke about that. It's basically a trio of retards, one of whom is nicknamed 'double-d', another who seems to have a jacket five sizes to large for him, and the third having a purple head (?).

Grim adventures of Billy and Mandy? Only mildly funny because of Grim. Billy's a retard (starting to notice a pattern here), but this is probably because if they had made Mandy the retard - you guessed it - they'd get blasted by the feminists.

Kids Next Door - probably the best of all you mention. And if that isn't something I didn't think I'd ever say in my life, I don't know what would be.

Teen Titans? Have you ever even watched that show? Because if you had, you'd notice that it was trying hopelessly to pander to the young teen market, who should probably not be watching cartoons like this anyway, and be doing something mildly useful. Artwork's pretty decent, but apart from that, it's nothing but another weak ripoff of the comic-book scene retooled for another market sector (I mean, look at that young Robin, whatever his name is... you can't honestly tell me that the first time you saw him, you didn't think "What the hell happened to him? Is it April 1st already?"

And a little footnote - very few of these cartoons are made in Flash. I think I've seen one, and I can't remember it's name - a thirty-something frames per second framerate made it stick out in my mind though. All I can remember is that it had a black cat in it.

Re:Streaming video?

[jp10558]

I thought that Bebop's dub (at least on the DVDs) was a very good one. I got about the same experiance Dubbed as Subbed.

Re:Streaming video?

[jp10558]

Yeah, I had considered that, especially after trying to watch the original Transformers again.

Then I started watching DuckTales again, and guess what? Still as interesting and absorbing today as back then. Either the show was actually good, or I haven't matured much... hmmm, posting about cartoons on /. ... :(

Re:Streaming video?

[May Kasahara]

Teen Titans and KND are not done in Flash. If you want to know which shows are, here's a fantastic place to start: http://coldhardflash.com/

Re:Streaming video?

[ultranova]

Yeah, Inkscape has no animation support tools whatsoever, and

Except the XML editor. Whoever got the idea of putting it there was actually pretty darn smart - if I can't get the desired effect from the UI, I can just read the SVG docs and code it directly.

did anybody mention anything about playing the animations? I haven't been able to find any OSS SVG animation player that would support any of the possible animation methods I can think of (Javascript/DOM, SVG declarative, SMIL).

It could be because it seems to take several seconds to render a reasonably complex SVG file, so you can't just render it again and again and interpolate the time - you need to have an engine optimized for animation (which, for example, caches the static parts of the picture and overlays the moving ones over or under them). In other words, it would take a lot of work, and would be totally useless until there's tools for making animated SVG, which are useless until there's an engine to play the animation - classic chicken-egg -problem. Of course, you might find the way out by making non-realtime animation engine that exports to normal bitmapped animation files...

You know, I wonder if it would be possible to build some kind of Blender SVG exporter; calculate where the outlines of each object lie in each frame, build paths for those outlines (and any other detail you want to include), Z-sort them, then reuse those paths, keying their position each frame, to create a frameless animation file.

I don't know if it's possible to animate the Z-sort order, thought... and you may end up in a situation where simple Z-sorting of objects won't create the desired results, and you'd need to split an object into several.

Any bored algorithm geniuses interested in trying this ?

And, for example, I'm definitely happy that Firefox will support SVG soon, just that my joy was more than slightly dented by the fact that Mozilla SVG doesn't support declarative animations! (I think it does DOM though, which is Painful to Work With compared to other methods.)

Not to mention that DOM-based animation loses the advantage of being able to interpolate n frames. DOM-based animation creates a fixed framerate unless you code an interpolation routine yourself - and frankly, I think that time-critical animation code should be native, not scripted.

Darn it - I want to run my own cartoon channel !

Re:Streaming video?

[The Original Yama]

To take an example, Ed isn't half as funny in the dub. The voice actor doing the dub tries her best, but it's just not the same.

Re:Streaming video?

[euphgeek]

Where is this generation's Duck Tales? Gargoyles? Chip and Dale's Rescue Rangers? The non-anime version of Batman? Tale Spin? Hell, I'd even take Darkwing Duck over some of today's crap.

You're already seeing them. All you're doing is comparing yesterday's crap to today's crap. Just because you were younger when you watched those shows doesn't mean they didn't suck. They did. Big time.

Re:Streaming video?

[teknomage1]

There's plenty of Room for Growth in this industry. While I was getting my animation degree, most of animators abhor the flash interface. THey use it because it's the best there is right now that can do vector animations. If someone can extend SVG into a truly flashlike platform and make an interface Artists can use, you'll see quick adoption once the word gets out. Or AdobeMedia will fix the flash interface to work like illustrator and art people will stop complaining.

Re:Streaming video?

[PhoenixFlare]

Cowboy Bebop is only half as good in the dubbed form that Cartoon Network airs. A lot gets lost in the translation (tone of voice, etc.). IMHO shows should be broadcast in the manner in which they were originally intended.

First, i've watched Bebop through with both English and Japanese audio.

I can read fast enough that the subtitles don't bother me, but I tend to prefer the English audio - apart from some of the more philosophical sections coming across a bit oddly, I would be hard pressed to find any problems with the quality of the dub. Conversely, some of the Japanese voices sound like they match rather badly to the characters (both Faye and Spike's voices sound too deep), and Ed in particular is just plain annoying.

Are people really so illiterate as to prefer an inferior dub over a sub?

Are you really so arrogant as to assume all anime viewers share your viewpoint and likes/dislikes?

Why do the networks insult our intelligence so?

Unless you can provide evidence that the bulk of Adult Swim/Toonami's viewers would prefer subbed instead of dubbed anime, you don't have a case for that. They're just doing what makes the best business sense - catering to the majority opinion.

Re:Streaming video?

[evilviper]

No streaming video I've seen has ever managed to play without skipping, so I'd have to conclude that non-streaming, download-and-watch video would propably be the best option for this task.

Your opinion is based on incorrect facts, and is also not of the point of view of a provider of content.

Flip book is video.

Only if you want to get pedantic about it. I think my point was quite clear, so I'm going to completely ignore this little rant of yours.

Re:Streaming video?

[ultranova]

Your opinion is based on incorrect facts,

My opinion is based on my observations. Every streaming video I've ever seen has skipped.

and is also not of the point of view of a provider of content.

So you not only know my observations better than I do (since you can claim my claims about them are incorrect), but you also know what the point of view of the content provider is ? Pity you didn't elaborate further, since as is, your message is devoid of any information, and therefore rather useless...

Only if you want to get pedantic about it.

Nothing pedantic about it. Flip book shows a moving picture. Quality of picture is rather low, and flipping pages create a lot of noise over it, but then again it is centuries old technology - the first mechanical calculators weren't very efficient either, not to mention the first horrible excuse for a television.

I think my point was quite clear,

You point was clear, I'm just disagreeing with it.

so I'm going to completely ignore this little rant of yours.

Yet you posted a reply to it.

Re:Streaming video?

[Anonymous Coward]

Probably the best case scenario for Adult Swim, if both dubbed and subbed versions are available, would be to have one airing of the program use the dubbed version of the episode and one airing use the subbed. One of my friends refuses to watch certain shows on Adult Swim simply because they're dubbed; if they were subbed he might watch Fullmetal Alchemist and Samurai Champloo when they air on AS. AS already shows most of its programs twice a night, so they have the time.

Re:Streaming video?

[Anonymous Coward]

IMHO shows should be broadcast in the manner in which they were originally intended.

So... you watch your anime raw? Those illiterate fools watching subbed anime just get on my nerves. Don't they realize they are corrupting the artwork by overlaying inferior English text? Why, it is just criminal!

Some dubs are better than others. I went through a subs-only phase too. Eventually, you'll grow out of it.

Though it would be nice to have access to multiple audio tracks and subs on tv like on DVD.

For free!

[camelmix]

I wonder what the networks and programmers will think of this? I mean it's not that big but are commericals included too :D

Re:For free!

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah but you have to keep in mind that most of the content we are talking about is seriously low-budget stuff (and not that good if you ask me but some juvenile people apparently like it; Robot Chicken is not completely awful). It's probably not commercial worthy anyway.

Re:For free!

[Frank Battaglia]

Yeah, who would want to pay for addspace in the top-rated 18-34 male programming block. It's not like that's a key market segment for just about every add campaign ever...

Re:For free!

[Anonymous Coward]

The only reason Adult Swim is rated high is because of Family Guy and Futurama (check out the stats if you don't believe me). The rest of the stuff is awful juvenile filler shit that people only watch while waiting for the main two shows or because everything else on TV sucks ass (eg. the latest reality-fuck-me-with-a-pickle show).

Unleash the Karma Whores

[Anonymous Coward]

In the forest of nerds find the red "Karma Whore" materia which summons all nearby Slashdotters for a 48-hour long beat-about-the-bush-and-then-beat-the-bush festival.

Re:Unleash the Karma Whores

[CDMA_Demo]

In the forest of nerds find the red "Karma Whore" materia which summons all nearby Slashdotters for a 48-hour long beat-about-the-bush-and-then-beat-the-bush festival.

And if you pair it up with "Grand Summon" the world will come to an end.

I want more!

[RingDev]

I want to be able to go online and rent any TV show season, or Movie, download it, and have it for a few days so I can watch it at my convienence.

Anti-DRM nazi be damned, I was a fast easy LEGAL way to download video content for my personal viewing pleasure. And I don't mind blowing $2 to rent a movie or season of TV. Heck, I'd even drop 5 bucks on a brand new triple-A movie.

-Rick

Re:I want more!

[camelmix]

That would be pretty cool, I wonder if then other companies would jump on and like Tivo? I wonder what the status is on internet based television is.

Re:I want more!

[Anonymous Coward]

DRM nazi be damned, you don't deserve to own a computer.

Re:I want more!

[RingDev]

why, because blowing $2 on a DRM'd movie rental saves me the hassle of going to a rental store, renting a moving, and having to return it 2 days later?

I hate to be the one to break this to you, but if movie producers can't make a profit selling movies, they won't continue to make movies.

And I as a customer am demanding online content delivery. I don't mind paying a fee competetive to those offered in brick and morter stores. And I don't like the idea of getting sued. DRMs are the perfect solution. They give the producers a way to limit their content's distribution, but give customers an easy way to access it.

I save money and watch the movie I want. The producers get the money to pay of the investment in making the movie, and continue making more movies. If a movie comes out that I think I will watch more then 10 times, I'll go buy the DVD, but I'm fine with rentals for the most part.

-Rick

Re:I want more!

[Anonymous Coward]

why, because blowing $2 on a DRM'd movie rental saves me the hassle of going to a rental store, renting a moving, and having to return it 2 days later?

No, becuase that shit could be forced upon the rest of us if it gets popular and people work around it, I don't want a DRMed net connection because you can't control your 'content' addiction.

I hate to be the one to break this to you, but if movie producers can't make a profit selling movies, they won't continue to make movies.

Less movies made? I can live with that.

And I as a customer am demanding online content delivery. I don't mind paying a fee competetive to those offered in brick and morter stores.

I like online media delivery as well, but I'm not ready to pay inflated prices.

And I don't like the idea of getting sued. DRMs are the perfect solution.

Because if no one is restricting you your 'content' addiction forces you to do something illegal?

They give the producers a way to limit their content's distribution, but give customers an easy way to access it.

Easy isn't all that easywhen you have to follow arbitrary rules of would-be-dictators backed by actual law, if DRM never takes of there will be no need for even harsher laws to protect it, don't trade freedom for 'content'.

I save money and watch the movie I want.

You save money by "paying a fee competetive to those offered in brick and morter stores?" The marketers shouldn't have a problem to lead your your tastes via the unskipable ads you will get with your DRMed files as far as I see.

The producers get the money to pay of the investment in making the movie, and continue making more movies.

The people who get the money are not always the people who make the movies, but you won't care as long as they can find people to exploit so you get regular 'content' fixes.

If a movie comes out that I think I will watch more then 10 times, I'll go buy the DVD, but I'm fine with rentals for the most part.

I see you base your buying decisions on hype... What a lack of surprise. Yet you forget that rented DVDs are almost as easly copied as downloaded files, digital rentals without computers and internet being reduced to a read-only "network rental scheme" is a pipe dream. I choose to keep the option to create and distribute my creations without pleding the 'content' cartels of this world to sign them over your addiction.

Re:I want more!

[ErikZ]

"I hate to be the one to break this to you, but if movie producers can't make a profit selling movies, they won't continue to make movies."

Lets say, that this year none of the studios make a profit. Which is not farfetched when you look at what's been released this year.

Do you really think all the movie companies are going to go out of business? No.

They'll cut costs. And reduce overhead. They'll start filming in cheaper locations. They replace actors with cardboard cutouts. They *won't* stop making movies until they go out of business.

So, do you think downloading movies will run every single production company into bankruptcy? I don't.

Re:I want more!

[CRCulver]

I hate to be the one to break this to you, but if movie producers can't make a profit selling movies, they won't continue to make movies.

Hollywood is still making a profit on films in spite of file-sharing. There have been various news stories of late how the industry has been cooking the books to complain of losing money due to P2P when in fact profits are huge.

And I don't like the idea of getting sued.

None of the RIAA et al. lawsuits were against downloaders, whose behaviour is questionably legal, but rather against those who were offering files to others. Download all you want without fear as long as you don't upload, although that you make you a leech, and some peers would ban you.

Plus, the victims of lawsuits were generally in the America and a few other countries. In Romania, where I live half the year, people offer huge collections of films and music for download with no fear, and their ISPs usually provide a city-wide network to facilitate the sharing. Sucks to be you if you are stuck in the US all the time.

Re:I want more!

[superpulpsicle]

The cost scale for hollywood is just messed up. The lead actors/actresses along with the directors/producers make up an enormous percentage of the revenue and budget. That's why there is a neverending debate as to whether their salaries should be included in the budget. They count it sometimes and sometimes not, depending on how they want to market it.

Re:I want more!

[RingDev]

P2P sharing, lets face it, sucks. What I'm talking about is a full library where you can find almost any movie/show every made. Where regardless of the number of swarms you can get a decent download speed. Where you don't have to wait 3 days for that one guy who's sharing your movie to log back in. If that option existed, you would see A LOT of people switch to it. It would quickly become a mainstream option and would have a dramatic effect on the movie industry.

As for you other reasons, I find neither acceptable. I have not heard any claims of download only saftey in the US. In France there was a case where a kid downloaded, but did not share a lot of music, and the judge ruled it as fair use, but that still left the provider open for a lawsuit. So in the US you may or may not get sued, and the provider will likely get sued. Your other option of moving to romania for half the year is also completely unexceptable for the vast majority of the US. It's also rather ineffective as you would have to do all of your downloading in a 6 month period, including finding all of the movies from the last 6 months that are not as likely to be getting swarmed.

-Rick

Hmmm...

[poopdeville]

What formats/codecs are they going to use? Can they be easily circumvented for more permanent downloads?

Big Nets pay attention

[divisivemind]

With DVRs nearing commonplace (especially in /. circles), Big networks take heed. We aren't watching your commercials. Provide an online streaming service on-demand with all previous episodes of a show, place ads in the stream, and your in the money. Cartoon network is showing some progressive thinking here and I applaud the initiative.

Re:Big Nets pay attention

[iCEBaLM]

Or sell subscriptions and rip out the ads.

Re:Big Nets pay attention

[Darth_brooks]

They tried that. Subscription based TV without the ads. They called it "Cable."

Once people started paying, in came the ads. There's still the rare quasi-commercial free station (HBO & Showtime, whose only commercials are the ones for their own programming between airings), but the rest of the TV landscape is littered with commericals. Hell, there's shrinking shows to fit in an extra 15 or 30 second commercial.

I love it when my buddies try and tell me how great XM is "cause there aren't any commercials!" Yeah, just wait. I pay to see too many commercials as it is.

Re:Big Nets pay attention

[Mr2001]

I love it when my buddies try and tell me how great XM is "cause there aren't any commercials!" Yeah, just wait.

Actually, XM had commercials on most music stations when it started out. Sirius came on the scene with commercial-free music, and XM had to drop their commercials to stay competitive.

Re:Big Nets pay attention

[ErikZ]

Right, and when one goes bankrupt, or buys out the other one, the commercials will come flying back.

Re:Big Nets pay attention

[ryanov]

XM still does have some commercials on some stations... one of the comedy ones springs to mind. My dad was bitching about it, but I'd never noticed 'cuz the ones I listen do don't have them.

Re:Big Nets pay attention

[Mr2001]

Sirius has commercials on their talk and news stations. Some of them are feeds from other networks (CNN, Fox, NPR, etc.) and even on the ones produced by Sirius, the live hosts need to take a break once in a while.

The commercial breaks are shorter than on FM radio.. but on some of the streams, they feel twice as long because the commercials are just so bad. Most of them are public service announcements or ads for dietary supplements and investment scams. I'd rather hear elevator music.

Re:Big Nets pay attention

[ultranova]

Or sell subscriptions and rip out the ads.

Or run a portal channel, where upcoming artists can show their shows for a (small) fee, and you collect statistics on how many people watch them. This, then, allows those artists to go to other networks and say "look, this many people watch my show", helping them sell their shows to big networks. So basically, it would operate as a point of entry service.

For this to be profitable, you need to get overhead very low, and be able to show a lot of different shows - otherwise, the fees collected from a single artist are going to be too high. It might be best to run it as a web site, providing promotion and reviews of shows, as well as a bittorrent tracker and initial seed for every program available.

So, from the more financially minded among slashdotters, I ask: could this work ?

And feel free to rip off the idea if you want, I'm too lazy to ever try it...

Re:Big Nets pay attention

[Anonymous Coward]

Commercials are used to fund the stations for regular FM radio. Since you pay for XM, doesn't that eliminate the need for commericials?

Re:Big Nets pay attention

[gatzke]

I agree. You don't notice commercials sucking so much on TV, but listening to CNN or Fox on XM or Sirius really stinks, too many long, bad commercials.

I would pay to have just music during the breaks. Anything but that crap they push.

Re:Big Nets pay attention

[Anonymous Coward]

For the record, the main XM station I've listened to (Comedy 150) plays commercials for crap like GoToMyPC, and motivational "Don't fear success" crap.

Posting anonymous because I know that this post doesn't matter.

Re:Big Nets pay attention

[Doc Ruby]

Didn't you just say that we won't watch the commercials, before demanding "TV networks" put them into streams? Online streaming is even easier to record and fast-forward than TV transmissions.

The future of video finance is product placement. Those are embedded in space, rather than time, so are much harder (currently impossible) to skip. The better shows will place sponsored products with integrity with the characters, plot, theme and production design. How they'll manage with "alternate reality" shows, like most science fiction or anachronisms (fantasies, historical docudramas, etc) remains to be seen. But the ones that best pull off inserting "reality" into fiction will be the most successful, both in quality and in revenue.

This is perfect for...

[Orinthe]

This is perfect for me and my roommate--we are college students with our own apartment, and can't afford to get even basic cable service ($52.95/mo?!). We have netflix instead, which is fine for me since I don't watch TV anyway, but she misses her Adult Swim. Internet is a necessity, though, so we have 5Mbps downstream cable internet (more than enough for streaming video). Now we can get the one thing we were missing out on--free and legal!

Thank you, Cartoon Network!

Re:This is perfect for...

[Monkey-Man2000]

I agree this is great for me for similar reasons. Does anyone know if you have to have a cable subscription to view these? The articles don't say.

Re:This is perfect for...

[ryanov]

No way for them to tell that I can think of. I'd doubt it.

Re:This is perfect for...

[irc.goatse.cx troll]

get something like this(cable spliter). 1 end into your cable modem, one end into your cable ready tv.

You'll miss a lot of channels, but you should get enough. They might have installed a filter on your line to prevent this, but most dont, and at worst you're out ~$2.

Re:This is perfect for...

[Jah-Wren Ryel]

This is perfect for me and my roommate--we are college students with our own apartment...she misses her Adult Swim.

Clearly you made up this story to troll for karma. Any real slashdothead with a collage-age female roomate would not be so worried about tv cartoons when the distraction of sex is so readily available. If you aren't able to distract her from the tv, you just need to learn how to properly catch and eat beaver.

Same thing holds if you are both girls, in fact, it goes double and requires a webcam.

Re:This is perfect for...

[tiggles]

I think it was Colonel Adolphus Busch who said "You can only have sex 30 or 40 times a day, no matter how hot she is"

Re:This is perfect for...

[josath]

Haha...I pay between $20 and $35 per month, for 4mbit/384kbit cable internet, and extended basic tv. The internet's cheap, because they always have some promotion or other, and when it runs out, just cancel and sign up for another promotion. The free tv, because they don't know how to give me internet but no tv. I've heard there's supposed to be some kind of filter installed, but it's been 2 years now, and they haven't done it.

Re:This is perfect for...

[Orinthe]

Actually, I'm gay. And not a girl. But hey, you're right about that webcam idea! I'll be sure to hook you up with a direct feed, and let you know when I have company. *wink wink*

Hmm - I hope they put in some anime

[starseeker]

as well as the more comedy oriented shows. I can't get into most of the comedy Adult Swim offerings (but then I don't really care even for Family Guy, sans Stewie - Futurama is about they only comedy I really go for) but I do enjoy a lot of their anime shows. I wonder if their contracts for distribution of anime limit what they can do here? Given how many episodes Inuyasha has I would have thought it would be a prime candidate to offer streams of - if you miss an episode it can be a looooong time before it repeats. BigO I would like to see return (although I did crack and get the DVDs for that one). Cowboy Bebop is an obvious one except I expect they know everyone will tune in to see it anyway (but for goodness sake get it out of the 1:30am timeslot! Even geeks sleep eventually.)

All in all, I must say I have been very pleasantly surprised by Adult Swim - it has definitely broadened my ideas about cartoons - they really AREN'T just for kids. I suppose that's obvious to this crowd, but I didn't know much about anime...

So anyway, hat's off to Adult Swim for daring to try something new and different in the US. Keep 'em coming!

Re:Hmm - I hope they put in some anime

[mrchaotica]

Sorry, they're only doing "Adult Swim original comedies," which sucks because I like everything on [Adult Swim] except for that stuff. I guess there'd be legal issues associated with distributing anything else, though...

Re:Hmm - I hope they put in some anime

[Jonboy X]

You, sir, are 100% correct: anime *is* teh suck. For gosh sake, I wish they'd make a separate animated kiddie porn channel for that crap.

Re:Hmm - I hope they put in some anime

[Anonymous Coward]

Because it is.

Re:Hmm - I hope they put in some anime

[coaxial]

I can't get into most of the comedy Adult Swim offerings

ATFH has fallen a bit, but Harvey Birdman has only improved.

Cowboy Bebop is an obvious one except I expect they know everyone will tune in to see it anyway (but for goodness sake get it out of the 1:30am timeslot! Even geeks sleep eventually.)

Cowboy Bebob has been in the line up pretty much constantly for four years now. If you haven't seen every episode 5 times by now, it sounds like a personal problem. Like your inability to see our 5...thousand dimensions.

All in all, I must say I have been very pleasantly surprised by Adult Swim - it has definitely broadened my ideas about cartoons - they really AREN'T just for kids. I suppose that's obvious to this crowd, but I didn't know much about anime...

The good ones were never just for kids. Rocky and Bullwinkle being the canonical example.

Re:Hmm - I hope they put in some anime

[coaxial]

Anime is teh suck

Jesus Christ! Some mod doesn't get the reference, and so mods it down as flamebait. But then again, anime freaks are known for their pretentious atitude and ignorance of non-Japanese animation.

Sorry dude. Not everything is a reference to anime, and not all anime is good. For every Inuyasha and Cowboy Bebop, there's ten that suck, like Paranoia Agent, or is formulatic like pretty much every Gundam series. (Giant robots are cool, especially that red, white, and blue one. The blonde bad guy wears metal mask. Kids fight their friends. War is sensless. There are no real bad guys or good guys. Yeah we got it the first time in the orignal Gundam. We don't have to see it again in Gundam 080, Gundam Wing, Gundam Seed, and on and on. It's not that Gundam is a bad series, but they're all pretty much the same except for G Gundam and Gundam SD *shudder*.)

Re:Hmm - I hope they put in some anime

[SlartibartfastJunior]

I just saw a bunch of the Adult Swim guys in a Q&A panel at DragonCon this weekend, and . . . yes, it does. There are some shows they've had before they just can't show again because they don't have the rights to them. Other shows they've made one season of, but can't or won't make more, so they'll just re-show what they already have. They do have some really cool new stuff coming up, though!

Re:Hmm - I hope they put in some anime

[fermion]

I just hope they put their back catalog on line. I would enjoy watching things like Sheep in the Big City, which probably isn't worth putting on DVD, again. It really had the best charracters, like the Angry Scientist and the Plot Device.

A few bucks to download an ep would be well worth it.

Sneaky

[spoonboy42]

I recall watching [adult swim] just this last week and seeing a bump (if you don't know what I'm talking about, it's clear you don't watch AS) listing things that definitely WON'T be coming to Adult Swim in the future. One of those things listed was free streaming video on Friday nights. I only wish I could remember what some of the other items on that list were, as it seems the people at Williams Street are pulling another sneaky maneuver like they did with their famous "Aqua Teen Cancellation".

Re:Sneaky

[tjw]

it seems the people at Williams Street are pulling another sneaky maneuver like they did with their famous "Aqua Teen Cancellation".

I wish that the Sealab 2021 cancellation had been a famous sneaky maneuver and the ATHF cancellation was real.

Is it really that popular?

[Anonymous Coward]

First off, I'm a woman, so that may taint my perspective. I just don't get adults who watch the Cartoon Network. Cartoons are for kids. They are written and drawn to catch the eye of children who respond to bright colors and geometric shapes.

My feeling is that adults should probably have grown out of that stage. I know one big exception that everyone will automatically pounce on is "what about anime?" But what about anime? Do you prefer watching ridiculously drawn women in nothing more than a couple strips of leather battling multi-armed beasts? Isn't there something fundamentally wrong with someone who associates a children's cartoon with sexiness? I don't want to say that such a person is a pedophile, but I don't think we can deny that anime capitalizes on schoolgirl uniforms as a form of sexual enticement.

I love geek guys. I love it when they talk about math and science or get wrapped up in talking about technology. I just kind of cringe when I hear them talking about anime. I feel like I'm looking at someone a couple years away from being raided by the FBI for soliciting sex with a minor in a chatroom.

Re:Is it really that popular?

[Anonymous Coward]

My feeling is that adults should probably have grown out of that stage

[sarcasm] I know! Art museums too! All those silly painted pictures with geometric shapes and bright colors. Grow up people, sheesh! [/sarcasm] So your point is that art is ok, as long as it isn't animated? Or is all art childish?

Re:Is it really that popular?

[mrchaotica]

Watch some of the mature situations (by that I mean intersting to adults, not sex) in shows like Cowboy Bebop, and you'll see that they're not even close to the stupid kiddy cartoons (like PowerPuff Girls or Dragonball Z), or even the good kiddy cartoons (like the original Looney Tunes).

There's not really many examples of American adult cartoons (except maybe Star Trek: The Animated Series), but in Japan adult-oriented animated shows are common, and nobody there thinks "cartoons are just for kids."

Re:Is it really that popular?

[Anonymous Coward]

Surely you aren't trying to equate cartoons with art! Maybe if your idea of art was Thomas Kinkade originals, I could see where you were coming from. Is that what you're in to? Cartoons and Thomas Kinkade? Do you eat Froot Loops for breakfast? Still live with your parents?

Re:Is it really that popular?

[Anonymous Coward]

You must be a blast to talk with at parties. Oh wait, you are female and home alone on Friday night posting to Slashdot, congrats, I bow to your nerdiness.

Re:Is it really that popular?

[ReformedExCon]

I'd just like to point out that it is the afternoon on Saturday in Australia.

Please carry on with your flaming.

Re:Is it really that popular?

[realmolo]

Hey, I agree with you. Anime sucks. It's not because of the tits, it's because the writing is bad, the dubs are bad, and the plots go nowhere.

Anime fans will tell me that the plots and characters are "deep". But really, they're just non-linear and non-sensical. Not the same thing.

So don't fear anime fans because they might be perverts. Fear them because they have no taste, and probably think Harry Potter novels are great literature.

Re:Is it really that popular?

[Anonymous Coward]

Did you ever see the original cut of Dragonball Z? I'll give you the stupid part, but I would hardly call it "kiddy", you know, with all the decapitation going on.

Dragonball (the original series) Was actually a very nice anime, but it all atarted going downhill as soon as the Z series started.

Toriyama had a really nice thing going on, but he succumbed to the pressure of the fans and extended the anime forever, recycling the same storyline over and over again.

Re:Is it really that popular?

[JPyun]

Hey, I agree with you. Movies suck. It's not because of the nudity, it's because the writing is bad, the acting is bad, and the plots go nowhere.

Movie fans will tell me the plots and characters are "deep". But really, they're just shallow and formulaic. Not the same thing.

So don't fear movie fans because they might be idiots wasting their money. Fear them because they have no taste, and probably think the novelty T-Shirts they wear are funny.

Re:Is it really that popular?

[burntsigil]

Actually, Dragonball Z isn't a 'kiddy' cartoon. It was originally intended for a more mature audience. early to middle teenagers, mostly. It's only after it's imported to America that it becomes kiddy-fied, what with the changing of names and language to not 'offend' the 5-10 year-olds. Not to say that Dragonball Z is mature on the level that Cowboy Bebop is, but it's definitely not a 'kiddy' show like Powerpuff Girls.

Re:Is it really that popular?

[Hannah E. Davis]

Hmm... that's a bit of a generalization. I will agree that MOST anime sucks because of the lack of plot/etc., but there are some very very good series out there. Besides, most Western shows are crap as well :)

If you want something that isn't non-linear/non-sensical, try out Planetes, Monster, or Cowboy Bebop. Monster in particular is slow-moving, but very plot-driven. It's dark and serious for the most part, and I find that the characters are surprisingly "human". I don't think that Monster is licensed in the US yet, but I'm pretty sure Cowboy Bebop is played on Adult Swim, and Planetes is at least licensed over here. Serial Experiments Lain also has a pretty good plot, but it gets kinda weird...

As for your problem with dubs... that's what subs are for, fanmade or otherwise :)

Re:Is it really that popular?

[Hatta]

Surely you aren't trying to equate cartoons with art!

You're damn right cartoons are art. For instance, Samurai Jack. Also, the Simpsons are absolutely a work of high comic art. They can compete with Oscar Wilde and Shakespeare any day.

Re:Is it really that popular?

[AeroIllini]

Hey, I agree with you. Anime sucks. It's not because of the tits, it's because the writing is bad, the dubs are bad, and the plots go nowhere.

Hey, now. Let's not make sweeping generalizations. Anime is not a genre, it's a medium, with all the good and bad that go with it. Yes, there is an embarrassingly large pile of anime that sucks a whole lot. But the same could be said for any other medium, such as movies, novels, paintings, poetry, television shows, even internet sites. In any form of expression, there will be a fair percentage of it that will suck. But don't let that large amount of suckage deter you from the gems hidden within.

As to the grandparent post's comments about the anatomical correctness of anime, I say just this: get over it. It's a style. News flash-- the men in anime are just as stylized, over exaggerated and poorly clad as the women. You don't think men really bulge with those kinds of ridiculous muscles, do you? And in the rare case they do, they certainly are not shaped like an upended triangle, with three foot shoulders and a six inch waist. Try not to think too hard about the "anatomical correctness" of the majority of our television and movie stars, either: they seem to fit into a category of person not attainable by mere mortals. Which is fine by me, by the way; I would much rather watch attractive people on my teevee than my neighbors.

...probably think Harry Potter novels are great literature.

Anyone who thinks Harry Potter is not a great series of books is far too cynical to appreciate anything pure. They have successfully injected both compelling storytelling and believable, likable characters into the tired and wheezing fantasy genre, which has not happened since Tolkien.

Re:Is it really that popular?

[Anonymous Coward]

Cartoons are for kids

No, they are not. Just like videogames can be for adults and for children - cartoons are for whoever their intended audience is. You, madam, are the idiot parent that would buy age 17+ rated games for your 4-year old child (like, say, "Silent Hill"), then attempt to whine to the press because "all games should be for children" when you find little Johnny playing a survival horror game that involves significant quantites of blood, undead children, entrails - and a visit to hell.

When cartoons were first introduced they were shown to an adult audience. They were at times the subversive underdog of cinema, on occasion being biting political commentaries. No difference here from books or movies - cartoons and videogames are just like any other medium.

They are written and drawn to catch the eye of children who respond to bright colors and geometric shapes

No offense, ma'am, but that's bullshit and an incredibly naive oversimplification. Yes, some cartoons are designed for children. But many aren't. Look at the writing of Invader Zim or any of the Adult Swim set as mentioned in this Slashdot article (Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Space Ghost, SeaLab, Harvey Birdman) - and you'd find that most of the humour goes straight over the heads of any kids watching. It's more funny, more daring - and more subversive - than a world full of "prime time" entertainment that's supposed to be for "adults".

For example, Aqua Teen Hunger Force (one of my current favorites) - is in no way suitable for children. One of the episodes in the recent series had a character (Shake) deliberately kill himself so he could haunt another (Meatwad). Shake writes a bitterly funny and abusive suicide note, swallows a handful of sleeping pills, sticks a car exhaust in his mouth, fills a pool with pirana fish, drops a toaster into the water, then jumps in. And when returning from beyond the grave, he asks another character to bring him back "with math". (Another joke involves the phrase "we are so fucking retarded"). The episode is extraordinarily funny, and in no way for children.

The best animated movies (like, say, The Incredibles) - have done so well at the box office because they are clever enough to work on two levels - to entertain the kids as the adults expect the movie to, but to also give the adults an enjoyable experience (with the lines that the kids don't get) so that the adults won't mind seeing the movie again or recommending it to their adult friends.

I would actually state that "prime time" TV is dangerous to children because it presents an oversimplified, vacuum sealed, sugar-coated, advertiser-approved view of the world that does nothing except teach people to be good little consumer whores.

But what about anime? Do you prefer watching ridiculously drawn women in nothing more than a couple strips of leather battling multi-armed beasts?

Yes, I do. The adult female figure is frickin' gorgeous. Ask any straight male if he likes watching naked women in pornography - 90% will say yes, the other 10% are liars or they're dating a porn star. And I also like watching "Xena, Warrior Princess" (well, I did once) who fights monsters in leather - but that doesn't mean I stalk Lucy Lawless. (I do, however, enjoy dating tall women - and I wouldn't consider it a negative point if they happened to know how to fight monsters and handle weaponry).

Isn't there something fundamentally wrong with someone who associates a children's cartoon with sexiness?

Excuse me? I don't know about you, but I would not want my child watching "ridiculously drawn women" (as you put it), any more than I would want them watching, say The Playboy Channel. This is adult material, inappropriate for children. Do not let your children watch cartoons and anime intended for adults.

I don't want to say that such a person is a pedophile, but I don't think we can deny that anime capitalizes on schoolgirl uniforms as a form of sexual enticement.

Re:Is it really that popular?

[Anonymous Coward]

Touchy touchy!

Seems like someone struck a nerve there, freak. When I read your post, I get the image of a fat white guy with a beard skulking into a Japanese video store and renting Sailor Moon to jack off to.

Do you prefer watching ridiculously drawn women...?

Yes I do.

Let's narrow this down... Do you like to watch anthropomorphized animals with semi-humanlike genitals and breasts? Do you enjoy watching them have sex with each other? When you fantasize about that, do you enjoy thinking of yourself on top? Bottom? Both equally on top and bottom?

You think that because you use the internet that you can't be called out as a pedophile? Many pedophiles have been caught trying to solicit sex from underage girls on the internet.

Anyway, I don't care what you watch. I just think it's funny that a grown person would think that these cartoons are anything more than pedo material. You even say that it's not for kids but for adults. Adults who want to look at scantily clad schoolgirls. Maybe that's what gets you off. Hey, bully for you. But don't think that you are immune from being recognized as a pedophile just because you don't hang around the schoolyard and are too chickenshit to download the real stuff that you want.

Re:Is it really that popular?

[zakezuke]

First off, I'm a woman, so that may taint my perspective. I just don't get adults who watch the Cartoon Network. Cartoons are for kids. They are written and drawn to catch the eye of children who respond to bright colors and geometric shapes.

Cartoons are for kids? I've seen some cartoons that would make your nose hair curl. Animation is a medium no more or less respectable than any other form. The key difference with Animation is you require less studio space, you don't have to go on location, you don't have to pay people to sit for hours and and deal with crafty make-up.

Now part of the reason that people like my self started to like Japanese Animation was the fact that many shows actually told the story. StarBlazers is a great example of this, many of us as children woke up at 5ish am before school just to catch the next sequence in a long story. Something like Ulysses 31 a childs adaptation of the Odyssey done up sci-fi style. Given the choice between a story or Hanna Barbera any day. And as far as entertainment for kids is concerned... I'd rather give them something with substance like "The Mysterious Cities of Gold" than Pokémon. South Park described that best... "It's not that it's violent, It's just stupid!".

Not all animation is for children. While I'll freely admit that there is much in the way of odd looking women wereing very little or even more odd sailor uniforms... there is other stuff that are full length movies.

Isn't there something fundamentally wrong with someone who associates a children's cartoon with sexiness?

Talk to a cultrue that has laws against filming nudity below the belt. I'm not a henti fan.

I love geek guys. I love it when they talk about math and science or get wrapped up in talking about technology. I just kind of cringe when I hear them talking about anime.

To each their own.

I don't want to say that such a person is a pedophile, but I don't think we can deny that anime capitalizes on schoolgirl uniforms as a form of sexual enticement. ....

I feel like I'm looking at someone a couple years away from being raided by the FBI for soliciting sex with a minor in a chatroom.

Oh good gawd... the funny thing is while this is a total troll I totally see people who don't understand the concept of what a pedophile is and somehow associate liking animation with being a mentaly disturbed wacko. Pedophiles are people who fucked up they are threatened by secondary sexual attributes and only get their hots on for children. And anyone who enjoyes animated women with huge bazongas and a leather strip or worse yet tigerskin (lum) is pretty much not in that class of sicko. If a guy likes boobies.... a pedo he is not. Some people who enjoy Henti might be a little bit off IMHO... but as long as the stuff they enjoy is between concenting adults I could care less.

It's rather a western idea that animation is for children. Anime isn't typicaly for children. I don't understand why, perhaps land cost is at a premium and it's cheaper to hire artists. Perhaps there are special effects that can't really be pulled off in a cost effective way other than the use of animation. Hendi I believe exists because of laws regarding pornography... either that or it's hard to find people to be degraded in such awful aways... couldn't tell ya. Or perhaps people like the artistic style. But there are tons of reasons why someone might choose to go animated rather than live action.

So don't enjoy animation all you want. Don't enjoy anime all you want. But when you see the popularity of television shows like "Friends" "Three's Company" or "Gilligan's Island", not to speak of all the "Survivor" spinoffs ask your self how much respect you'd have for people who watch that crap. While you may not enjoy Anime... Anime at the very least in almost all cases, even Anime geard tward kids at the very minimum has a story. There might even be a sub-plot. It might not be a good story but that is a vast improvement to "Simple Life". Simply put... I have more respect for a person who watches Speed Racer of all things than "Simple Life".

Re:Is it really that popular?

[Anonymous Coward]

I think you've proved his point re: Harry Potter. They are not great books. They are simply entertaining stories written at a fifth grade level, which makes them incredibly easy to digest. Sure, I read them because they're fun, but I in no way consider them "literature."

Re:Is it really that popular?

[LordLucless]

So in order for something to be "literature" it has to obtuse and inaccessible? This is the posturing sort of attitude that had me laughing all through my university writing course.

Re:Is it really that popular?

[mikael_j]

or even the good kiddy cartoons (like the original Looney Tunes).

Actually, the original Looney Tunes although it had a fairly innocent look to it was actually targeted at an adult audience..

/Mikael

Re:Is it really that popular?

[meringuoid]

Did you ever see the original cut of Dragonball Z? I'll give you the stupid part, but I would hardly call it "kiddy", you know, with all the decapitation going on.

No kidding. It got pretty nasty at times - particularly all those Namekkuseijin that Vegeta killed while he was looking for the dragonballs... For that matter, you probably wouldn't get away with Muten Roshi's behaviour in a Western show. Dirty sod.

Toriyama had a really nice thing going on, but he succumbed to the pressure of the fans and extended the anime forever, recycling the same storyline over and over again.

Now come on! There's a great deal of plot variety in Dragonball Z!

For instance, Raditz arrives and beats the hell out of Gokuu. Then Gokuu goes away and trains, comes back, and defeats Raditz.

Then it turns out that Vegeta and Nappa are due to arrive shortly, so everybody trains for ages, then they fight Nappa and get thumped, then Gokuu arrives, beats the hell out of Nappa, goes to some Kaiou-ken multiple, and beats the hell out of Vegeta.

Then Frieza turns up and beats the hell out of everybody. Gokuu trains for a while, fights Frieza, becomes a Super Saiyajin, and defeats Frieza. Here I gloss over the interesting subplot whereby the Ginyuu Toku-Sentai turn up and beat the hell out of everybody until Gokuu arrives and beats them all.

Later, the Androids turn up and beat the hell out of everyone. After recovering from a near-fatal heart condition, Gokuu would have defeated the Androids, if...

... Cell hadn't got there first. But in a surprise plot twist, everyone goes off and trains for a while, then Gokuu fights Cell, then Gohan fights Cell, then Gohan goes SSJ2 and defeats Cell, then Gokuu teleports Cell away to undergo a controlled detonation, then Cell comes back from the dead and Gohan fights him again and wins again.

Then Buu turns up and... well, you get the picture. The plot is completely and entirely different every time. There's nothing in the least predictable or blatantly repetitive about any of this :-)

Re:Is it really that popular?

[Urbansquid]

Ugh, not this again. My son (of 18 months) also likes to listen to classical music, does this mean I should "grow" out of it? Perhaps it is just a style of art by which a message is presented.

I can hardly stand animated shows that are made to appeal specifically to children, but to be dismissive of the category as a whole is tantamount to ignorance. I could point to much of the [AS] line-up, but for our purposes here I'll stick to Harvey Birdman and Sealab 2021. These are shows I understand the mainstream will probably never "get" but I find them refreshingly funny and, dare I say, topical. (If you don't believe me grab the latest HB off of myspleen...)

And to be dismissive of anime as "ridiculously drawn women", this is nothing more than a blatant stereotype. My current favorite, Samurai Champloo, (from the makers of the also excellent Cowboy Bebop) has an amazing heroine. Funny, graceful (at times), and even small chested! I guess you'll have to put away your wide paintbrush now... Of course you'll note I've not even glanced over the plots that are several times more complex than the hash you find on stateside television. (I'm looking at you OC. How my wife watches that, I'll never know. It seems to me the men are written so ridiculously.)

Re:Is it really that popular?

[Bones3D_mac]

Wow... you must love animators then. Because the only thing worse than an adult that watches an animated show are the adults making them.

Re:Is it really that popular?

[burntsigil]

*sets up a "Don't Feed the Troll" sign*

Re:Is it really that popular?

[AeroIllini]

So in order for something to be "literature" it has to obtuse and inaccessible? This is the posturing sort of attitude that had me laughing all through my university writing course.

Heartily agree with you there. There are lots of titles of supposed "great literature" that were written for children; The Jungle Book (Kipling) and Alice in Wonderland (Carroll) both come to mind.

And, of course, anyone who has actually READ the Harry Potter series knows that Rowling's writing style has grown right along with Harry. She designed the series so that kids who were the same age as Harry when the first book was released would be able to read more difficult and complex books as the series progressed. The first book may have been written for fifth graders, but the most recent couple deal with issues and situations that I would not expose a 12-year-old to just yet; they would probably be classified as high-school level reading material. Parents may be handing copies of the "Half-Blood Prince" to their 10-year-olds, but I don't agree with it. They are much too complex and intense for that age group.

Re:Is it really that popular?

[Chris Tucker]

Geeze, lady! You should have tried watching Justice League Unlimited.

A much better storyline/arc that beats most of the "adult" dramas on the "adult" channels in their "adult" timeslots.

Some of the recent Teen Titans stories have been equally good as well.

"Do you prefer watching ridiculously drawn women in nothing more than a couple strips of leather battling multi-armed beasts?"

Haven't seen much Cowboy Bebob, The Big O, FLCL, et al, etc., lately, have you?

"I just kind of cringe when I hear them talking about anime. I feel like I'm looking at someone a couple years away from being raided by the FBI for soliciting sex with a minor in a chatroom. "

Yeah. AKIRA/My Neighbor Totoro/Princess Mononke/Spirited Away is really gonna make me want to fuck a 12 year old girl in the ass.

Re:Is it really that popular?

[xenoandroid]

Wow, just wow. Cartoons have absolutely no link to pedophilia. I believe most fans of cartoons would tell you that they outright detest the disgusting people who abuse children. I'll say it once again, watching cartoons has no link to underage sexual activity.

Yes some anime capitalizes on the whole schoolgirl thing, but I really don't see much that capitalizes on it intentionally in a sexual way, a lot of live action films capitalize on things like racial and sexual stereotypes so you probably would have complaints about those too right?. You're forgetting that some shows have a completely legitimate reason for what their characters wear. If the series is about a bunch of Japanese school kids then what do you want would you expect them to be wearing? Since Japanese cartoons are still cartoons, you can bet your ass that there will be anatomic incorrectness and exaggerations (there are other forms of art that do this) and stylization according to the head artist's wishes, sometimes this means a 'sexy' look which you usually find in shows that are not targeted at kids. I'd also like to point out that there are shows that go to the flipside of cutsie look, but based upon your predisposition that all anime fans are scary perverts, you'd probably find something wrong with that as well.

Also I'd like to point out that American cartoons, even ones for kids can also be accused of 'idealizing' the human body (See Aladdin). I also find it interesting that you didn't complain about cartoon men that have insanely huge muscles and upper torsos that tear shirts...Or maybe it's because you don't find that for some unknown reason

I doubt being a woman would taint your perspective, there are many women who like cartoons and anime. In fact, in high school I was vice president of our anime club, and out of 15 members, there were only 3 guys who regularly came (including me). The president was a girl.

You seem to be badly misinformed or just ignorantly throwing punches because you really seem to know nothing about cartoons and the 'culture' surrounding them. I bet that you've blamed past relationship problems on cartoons. As someone else said, I bet you really hate the artists who draw cartoons.

Re:Is it really that popular?

[Urbansquid]

Yikes. Way to reply to a well worded and thought out post with malice and a large sprinkling of ad-hominem attacks. Maybe next time you could try to be a bit more topical and, you know, not resemble a freak yourself...

Re:Is it really that popular?

[Anonymous Coward]

Actually if you google "cognitive science" and (film or art) a vast array of research is available.

While it is too early in the development of the field to synthesize a generally accepted theory, it seems reasonably safe to state that the sorts of information that you can communicate through visual media are somewhat disjoint from those that you can communicate via textual narratives.

The use of cartoons as a visual media simply provides a "shorthand" for visually communicating. It is the equivalent of the transition from pictograph based text to alphabetic based text.

The reason that cartoons/comics (anime/manga) are so popular in the far east would appear to be because pacific rim cultures are still going through the the pictograph/alphabetic transition, and thus are more amenable to the same experience in their visual communications.

A more interesting implication is that since the use of the ability to process textual communications are known to inhibit visual communications, the process of watching anima/cartoons may be acting as a visual literacy course to increase the cognitive processing capabilities of the watchers.

To summarize: Watch Adult Swim. Cognitive science says it's good for your brain.

Re:Is it really that popular?

[elrous0]

Yes some anime capitalizes on the whole schoolgirl thing, but I really don't see much that capitalizes on it intentionally in a sexual way,

The Japanese have a long and strnage tradition of sexualizing the schoolgirl image. It's almost an obsession in certain circles there.

I'm sure a psychologist would have a field day trying to explain why. But, then again, they would probably have a field day trying to explain "Dance Dance Revolution" too. Never has a society been in more desperate need of marijuana.

-Eric

Ack!!!

[somethinghollow]

Does that mean is STARTS Friday the 26th and most of the stream time would actually happen really early on Saturday the 27th? In other words, can I get off work at 5:00 PM on Friday, come home and get sloshed, then watch cartoons from 11 PM until I pass out (instead of coding)?

Just wanted to make sure I'm reading TFA correctly, as I've already fulfilled up to the "get sloshed" part of my Friday night plan and I don't know what to put into iCal, as I am going to forget this news in *whispers* seven days */whispers*.

Why couldn't they have posted this the day before?

Re:Ack!!!

[Anonymous Coward]

No. It actually starts on the 16th. But, from the sound of your post, your Friday night sloshing is going quite well.

Re:Ack!!!

[Anonymous Coward]

Wow. Yeah, I meant 16th. Guess I'm further than I thought...

Re:Ack!!!

[ErichTheWebGuy]

come home, get sloshed, watch cartoons, code, pass out... ah, the good life :) i love being a nerd!

Re:Ack!!!

[Pixelmixer]

That is the life.... The Only Life worth living haha

PLEASE MOD ME UP

[Anonymous Coward]

Kathy will you marry me?

Re:PLEASE MOD ME UP

[CDMA_Demo]

Reminds me of the movie "Dumb and Dumber".

Re:PLEASE MOD ME UP

[Anonymous Coward]

just a small heads up - it's not smart to threaten to kill yourself at the same time you're asking someone to marry you. Generally when people jump into marriage they're after a bit of stability & consistency. Suicidal spouses are just really messy.

Re:PLEASE MOD ME UP

[Anonymous Coward]

Who wants to marry a 9 year old?

Re:PLEASE MOD ME UP

[Anonymous Coward]

You know what, go ahead and kill yourself, then there would be one less fucktard in the gene pool.

Supernatural Pilot/Premier is online!

[antdude]

Also, Supernatural pilot/series premier is already online before its debut on TV (9/13/2005). I had troubles with it in Mozilla v1.7.11 (e.g., controls don't work).

I really like this ideas of TV shows online.

Re:Supernatural Pilot/Premier is online!

[afree87]

When I tried to watch that, I got an odd notice to the effect that the premiere was only available in "select areas". I don't know how Yahoo found my location.

Re:Supernatural Pilot/Premier is online!

[antdude]

Where are you from? I wonder if it is like BBC's video archive that was posted yesterday. It was only for UK folks and I was from U.S. :(

Re:Supernatural Pilot/Premier is online!

[afree87]

I'm from Massachusetts.

Re:Supernatural Pilot/Premier is online!

[Rude Turnip]

If you're on a cable modem, the domain your ISP put you on probably has more than enough info to rat you out. My domain on Comcast is trentn01.nj.comcast.net, which indicates that I am in Trenton. Go to showmyip.com and you can see how much geographical information is in your IP address.

Adult Swim?

[Tony Hoyle]

Water based porn???

Count me in!

How to make sure "Big Nets" won't pay attention...

[zors]

...put it in the subject line of your slashdot post.

This is, for the record, a +1 funny and not a -1 troll.

I dun bwoke it!

[BrynM]

From the Robot Chicken/Adult Swim error page:

ERROR

Please be advised that you almost broke the Internet. Trying to get somewhere? Use the navigation at the top of the page. If you're still having problems, update your browser or your version of Flash. Just stop whatever it is that got you here because it's seriously freaking us out.

Apparently the Robot Chicken Download Page is not quite working... Nice to know they let their geeks get a laugh too at least.

Re:Word

[PunkOfLinux]

Boning... hardwood... funny! I get it!!

A nice start to a broader concept.

[nich0las]

I remember reading up on the whole streaming video content thing.

It's expected that once connections get to about 20Mbs on the down and I think a couple megs on the up, we'll be able to select and stream full quality video as we see it on the tv.

It's unfortunate that AS has such a limited time frame, but understandable at the same time.

If I ever manage to remember my AS login info,or just be lazy and create a new ID, I'll be on there for sure next friday!

Recognize it for what it is

[citking]

CN is doing a huge thing here for their fans. I think it's great that they are doing this for their fans. Just goes to show that some great ideas DO, in fact, make it to reality.

Adult Swim is (arguably) the best thing that CN is noted for, and by doing this they are making themselves a wider audience. Good for business, good for fans. Good job guys!

Re:Recognize it for what it is

[DDLKermit007]

Adult Swim is actually a network inside of Cartoon Network. They just got onto the Nielson's Rateings because they are doing such a standup job. Cartoon Network has absolutely no fsking clue what they are doing when it comes to more "Adult" oriented toons and they admit it thankfully (before there was Toonami which sucked ass and still does, but it's mainly geared and at a timeslot aimed at little kiddies now anyways).

I'm honestly waiting for the William Street guys doing AS to start signing onto cable networks as thier own channel. However AS is not without thier fare share of fuckups though. Tom Goes to the Mayor and decision to being over the abismal Milk Chan. Otherwise they have been fairly spot on with the good material.

please be quicktime

[illtron]

...or anything that's not WMV or Real. I can't tell you how fucking pissed I am when I can't even view CNN's video online using Firefox and Windows. I have no clue what the problem is. Plugin loads, but video doesn't play. Fucking fuck crap.

Re:please be quicktime

[Snover]

Windows Media Player 9 (ugh) actually plays rather nicely with Mozilla. For Real and Quicktime, try Real Alternative and Quicktime Alternative. They both work very well.

Re:please be quicktime

[benw1979]

Real Alternative
Media Player Connectivity (Firefox Plugin)

Enjoy :) And uninstall official Real Player first.

Re:please be quicktime

[Anonymous Coward]

Doesn't seem to work... I'm on Win 2000 Pro SP4 and Firefox 1.0.6. I installed the Media Player Connectivity plugin, restarted Firefox and CNN videos still won't play. It's just like the GP post mentions, no change from a base Firefox installation.

Re:please be quicktime

[imroy]

Oh please, *none* of those three! Why doesn't anyone apart from P2P'ers use XviD/DivX with MP3 sound? Is it just the stigma? No, instead we have to put up with crappy Real/WM/QT video and sound. In fact, why don't they go with H.264/MPEG-4 AVC? It's the future of broadcast television and offers amazing compression. I've just started playing around with x264, and it blows away even XviD! And it will only get better with time. I'm sure the commercial developers have already got a better H.264 implementation. The only problem is that everyone has to install VLC for now. Oh well, just another media player to download, right? And you never know, people might actually like a simple player instead of the all-in-one media *centres* that the other media players have become.
</rant>

Re:please be quicktime

[Anonymous Coward]

Actually, even Apple are pushing for H.264 now.

Could be in a Quicktime container, but still, I don't think the VCL programmers will find it hard to decode that.

Re:please be quicktime

[plasmacutter]

VLC does not properly support x.264 avc yet. Trust me, i've been trying their nightly builds looking for it and for the time being they can't do it. (especially in matroska)

Format?

[Anonymous Coward]

What format will it be in? Xvid? Hopefully it won't be in some proprietary format so that everyone will be free to watch it.

both or none

[Anonymous Coward]

"I wouldn't want to be the one... ...who has to foot the cost of the bandwidth bill."

Even if it is the same one who gets the advertising check?

Steaming Flash? Don't give them any ideas!

[Nymz]

From the articles it appears they will only be streaming select content, and even then only during a limited hour timeframe. This does not meet my definition of easy access nor high quality picture.

If I was interested, I'd just watch the shows live or by DVR/VCR, and then later send them my email and IP address.

Slashcode needs to add spaces to editor posts too!

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm so sick and tired of having my web page forced to scroll horizontally (especially on a cell phone) because the editors think it's clever to write a short, entirely-hyphenated novel within the "Department" field of the story.

Maybe a taste of their own source-code-destroying, URL-mangling medicine would do them some good!

Amazing, how can it work?

[MrArmyAnt]

Somone will figure out how to record it, and float more episodes around the net. Second, this will only increase the number of viewers, as now they don't have to have cable, nor will advirtisments do anything, and it will kill all bandwidth. I love the feature, but will they profit?

Re:Amazing, how can it work?

[Mr2001]

Somone will figure out how to record it, and float more episodes around the net.

That isn't really anything to worry about. Anyone with TiVo or a capture card can already record the show off-air and share it... and it only takes one person to do that in order to supply the whole internet.

Re:Amazing, how can it work?

[Anonymous Coward]

And even if you don't have TiVo or a capture card, you'll be able to use the SDP (http://sdp.ppona.com/) to download it if the stream is ASF.

Some of it is meant to look that way

[everphilski]

I agree to a point, but a few of the shows thrive off of it. Case in point, Robot Chicken, animating barbie dolls to reinact situations that can't quite (or wouldn't) be done in real life. And Aqua Teen Hunger Force (a happy meal family... what more is good animation going to add? it's supposed to have a happy meal motif, simple bright colors...)

Can't speak for Birdman or the other shows...

-everphilski-

Re:Some of it is meant to look that way

[circusboy]

ahh yes... "the Karen Carpenter Story" one of the greats...

Adult?

[hackwrench]

You mean "overcome by the ravages of time", "prejudiced against certain art forms", "near to the grave"

Re:Adult?

[ReformedExCon]

Yes, if the alternative was to be "unrepentantly immature", "undiscerningly simple", "wet behind the ears"

Re:Adult?

[Anonymous Coward]

Quite an ironic thing to say considering since, judging by your signature, you still believe in fairy tales.

Re:Adult?

[Anonymous Coward]

seriously go take a flying leap in front of a bus

[no way]

[fsck!]

I just moved into a new apartment and had been debating getting cable, mostly for [Adult Swim] and Battlestar Gallactica. The latter is usually available via P2P by the next morning, so now I guess Comcast can just kiss my whole asshole.

Ironically...

[Spy der Mann]

Neon Genesis Evangelion is classified in Japan as "for kids". A very strange world we live in.

in the words of the wwwyzzerdd

[Anonymous Coward]

Live, streaming broadbrain.. hang on, rebuffering...

Hmm...

[Cyno01]

Adult swim episodes on the internet? Well, uhm... *cough*

why not tonight??

[ManifestDestiny]

Damnit... i really could have used my daily dose of adult swim tonight. i need my aqua teen. what is a poor stoner to do?

SYN/ACK!

[maelstrom]

N/T

why only between 11 and 6?

[RubberDogBone]

Why are they only streaming this stuff between 11 and 6?

How about streaming it at other times so people who can't watch at night might actually see it?

I work the graveyard shift (fewer managers, no traffic, more pay, etc) so I'm not home when this stuff is on.

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

am i the only person

[briancurtin]

am i the only person that doesnt care at all about this? its a bunch of cartoons.

mod me down for not liking cartoons, i already know its coming.

Finally...

[kurbchekt]

My prayers are answered: there is a God...

It took you this long?

[OrGoN3]

This was announced a LONG TIME AGO. It took you this long to post it!?!?!?!? Wow...and I thought other people were slow.

TV and Video Online

[rinkjustice]

I don't have a tv, nor do I want one, but every now and then I want to flake out to some non-interactive entertainment. Here are the sites I've found for free tv and video on the web (that I can remember at 1:48 a.m.)

http://edition.cnn.com/ -News fix

http://www.homestarrunner.com/toons.html -Not tv or video per se, but strongbad email flash animations are a hoot and close enough

http://tv.yahoo.com/feature/supernatural.html -The show Supernatural online, although I haven't watched it yet. Featured on /.

http://www.atomfilms.com/ -Everybody knows this one; marginally good

http://video.freevideoblog.com/ -Alot of crap, the odd good video

http://video.google.com/ -Random

http://www.ifilm.com/ -See also atomfilms

http://www.newgrounds.com/ -Way cool, homepage worthy!

http://tv.reuters.com/ - more news video than cnn

http://www.rocketboom.com/vlog - ???, Profit! Actually, I don't know what to say

http://portal.omroep.nl/uitzendinggemist/ -Dutch TV up the wazoo

http://mediahopper.com/portal.htm -1041 tv stations from all over the world listed and ready to watch (as far as I can tell)

http://video.search.yahoo.com/ -Stuff n' things

http://www.youtube.com/ -People upload and share their videos online... you've been warned!

I should add everything here is "family friendly", as far as I'm aware: no porn, uberviolence or gratuitous advertising (if I've somehow overlooked something, I apologise).

Re:TV and Video Online

[rinkjustice]

I'll add http://www.japander.com/ (celebs do commercials and make asses of themselves in Japan), http://www.gametrailers.com/ and http://www.quicktime.com/ (for the movie trailers) but the list is still far from complete.

Alot of these sites are unfortunately not linux friendly (only sites compatible with mplayer and realplayer work on linux to my knowledge).

Re:TV and Video Online

[Rude Turnip]

You can also get video podcasts for free through iTunes. Lots of quirky and sometimes funny independent films up there. My personal favorites are from Insane Films (really outrageous, sometimes disgusting stuff) and Hometown Tales (Jersey Devil, local legends kind of stuff).

Re:TV and Video Online

[DisKurzion]

I would also like to add something, although not always "family-friendly":

http://channel101.com/

Definitely something different.

Re:TV and Video Online

[rinkjustice]

http://www.watchfilms.com/

wow

[two.oh]

Cartoon Network is the only network I enjoy, aside from my HD National Geographic channel. I think this is a great thing, and it certainly shows that CN has always been a network of the younger generation. With Toonami, and Adult Swim, I feel as if they made a network entirely for me. Great work CN!!

AAA??!?!?

[Anonymous Coward]

Three times cleaner than G? What the hell movies are you watching?

Re:Why This is Rare

[Strange Ranger]

there's what cable operators pay to carry us. If we broadcast our material online, whether or not we charge, we've devalued the product.

Why not allow the cable companies to provide the content to their Cable Internet Customers? I.e. - "Log into your Comcast account to access Comcast TV Online" ? And there's your content.

Problem solved yes?

Ultra Mega Chicken?

[Anonymous Coward]

Shh! No, he is legend!

Video streams for Linux people

[syltty]

http://lintelkku.sourceforge.net/index.php

Yes.

[Danger Stevens]

And to top it off: three guys hanging out in a neighbor's pool. And by 'guys' I mean a box of fries, a milkshake, and a meatball.

Right On!

[jazzman75]

Right the fuck on! I live for Adult Swim (except for the Anime). I hope that proves that I have a life. ;)

you didnt get it

[gcnaddict]

ever heard of ripping from a live stream? :P its not exactly hard

Streaming

[RevengeOfPoopJuggler]

Great. I expect the experience would be something like this:

"I am attempting to calibrate"
BUFFERING...10%...20%...30%...40%...50%...60%...70 %...80%...90%...
"the laser. What do you"
BUFFERING...10%...20%...30%...40%...50%...60%...70 %...80%...90%...
"mean there's underwear"
BUFFERING...10%...20%...30%...40%...50%...60%...70 %...80%...90%...
"stuck in the exhaust?!"
BUFFERING...10%...20%...30%...40%...50%...60%...70 %...80%...90%...
etc...
etc...

Okay

[RingDev]

So my sample was a bit on the extreme side.

So what would be more likely is that actors and directors would take a pay cut. Special effects budgets would get cut. And movies would almost all get shot on a green screen in a sound both so that location costs (the largest expense) could be cut. So no, movies wouldn't disappear over night, but the quality would likely drop.

Will downloading movies ruin every company? Matters. If 90% of all movie watchers download movies with out paying for them, then likely yes. Either that or theator prices will shot to $30 a ticket and DVD's will cost $60. The point is, why damage them at all? Why not just pay the same rates you pay for a brick and morter rental to get the same service? $2 for a 2 day viewing window with out the hassle of returning the movie.

-Rick

umm they've been doing this for 6 months

[Robocoastie]

or so on time warner cable's "in demand" channel. So I ask the same question I do about other tv/movie initiatives on the 'net "why?"

ADV Involved?

[Bones3D_mac]

Just out of cuiousity, is ADV Films somehow pulling the strings on this one? Look at the clues:

1. ADV suddenly hands over the keys to their flagship anime series (Evangelion) after years of refusing to license the series to any network that would modify the contents (censoring) or show ads mid-episode. (Barring the ADV-sponsered "Giant Robot Week" Cartoon Network ran a couple years ago.)

2. ADV would have a major interest in seeing something like this work as a way to promote their Anime Network thing they've poured millions into, so that more major cable providers start carrying it.

3. ADV overall financial outlook is not doing so well. Mostly due to them grossly over-esitimating the brief anime fad here in the US. They've blown much of their own capital on trying to milk this fad for every last cent they could get out of it. As a result, they've suffered massive employee layoffs and their product quaality has gone way down while they try to cut as many corners as they can to stay afloat.

If Cartoon Network is really going to offer this, I'd stake money that this is likely a last-ditch, all-or-nothing effort footed by ADV to save what little remains of their reputation before fading completely away.

My Opinion Reallly Does Matter!! Wow!

[dave1g]

I took an online survey (for pay) sometime last semester for Cartoon Network where they demoed a streaing video service.

It was high quality audio and video. Worked fine in the survey, anfd I liked it and let them know.

Glad they decided to go ahead with it.

Of course when you take such surveys you technically arent allowed to talk about them, but I think its ok now.

WTF is "AdultSwim"?

[Lproven]

Another typically enigmatic unexplained US-centric /. story. So what is this "AdultSwim" thing? I've looked at its/their website and am no more enlightened. Something to do with cartoons?

The name made me think of, I don't know, webcams at the local pool? Underwater pr0n?

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:Why This is Rare

[Strange Ranger]

If the business model makes sense then yes people will care. Comcast (for example) would like nothing more than to offer 'special content', and since they're already paying for said content to air it on TV...

What people don't care about are "pure" technologies with no business model anywhere in sight.

Adult Swim is #1

[PCCybertek]

its the best thing on TV1