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TV Delays Driving AU Viewers To Piracy

Posted by kdawson on from the desperate-for-housewives dept.

Astat1ne writes in with a story in The Register about the delays Australian TV viewers are experiencing getting overseas-produced series and how this is driving many of them to download the shows via BitTorrent and other peer-to-peer networks. The problem is compounded by the fact that Australian viewers are unable to download legal copies of the episodes from the US iTunes website. Quoting: "According to a survey based on a sample of 119 current or recent free-to-air TV series, Australian viewers are waiting an average of almost 17 months for the first-run series first seen overseas. Over the past two years, average Australian broadcast delays for free-to-air television viewers have more than doubled from 7.9 to 16.7 months."

5 of 394 comments (clear)

  1. It's Still Wrong by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    Just because some people can't get something, doesn't make it right. I can't afford a Ferrari, but nobody would justify me stealing it. Similarly, if a movie or show isn't available in my market, it doesn't justify piracy because the distributor for one reason or another didn't make it available. Either wait or it, or petition for it to be made or sale.

    I love how slashdot has become Piracy Excuses & Justifications 101.

    1. Re:It's Still Wrong by SaDan · · Score: 1, Troll

      No kidding. It's TV, for crying out loud! This isn't a life or death situation. Go read a freakin' book!

      Or, if you wish to be part of the solution, and not part of the landscape, write to your local TV stations and start complaining! Write to their advertisers! DO SOMETHING CONSTRUCTIVE!

  2. Longer life expectancy driving people to murder by jbf · · Score: -1, Troll


    The delays that people experience before they die is driving many would-be inheriters to murder others or contract for their death. The problem is compounded by the fact that increasing medical costs for seniors is decreasing the available inheritence. According to a survey based on a sample of life expectancies and previous estates, generation X is waiting 8 to 10 years longer than previous generations for their inheritences. Those who believe they deserve such funds earlier have resorted to poisoning or even shooting their parents in a bid to preserve a larger portion of the estate and to obtain earlier access. Poor kids.

    This has nothing to do with rights. This has to do with laws created to reward the rather expensive production of TV shows, which the networks choose to monetize in ways some people don't like.

  3. Re:Obvious... by AyCarumba · · Score: 0, Troll

    You are obviously an idiot. "I don't want to wait, so stealing is okay" is not an excuse for it. Hell, I don't want to wait for my million dollars I am going to make, so I will steal it from the bank. I'll make that much over my lifetime anyway, right? Idiot.

  4. Re:They can't?-Stop me. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Troll

    "This is so crazy, I'm almost certain I was trolled. Congrats."

    No, you just can't fathom any belief system that's not approved by the "widespread" majority. Now who should feel sorry for whom?