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BitTorrent Announces Exclusive TV Shows

Posted by samzenpus on from the torrent-theater dept.

An anonymous reader writes BitTorrent today announced an exclusive partnership with Rapid Eye Studios to launch BitTorrent Originals. In short, the two will identify, produce, and distribute original video content for the BitTorrent Bundle platform, the company's direct-to-fan publishing platform. BitTorrent Originals will be timed exclusives, meaning they will debut on the BitTorrent Bundle platform and only be available there for 30 to 60 days. After the BitTorrent exclusive window closes, each project will be available through other distribution channels.

25 comments

  1. This is brilliant! by Gription · · Score: 3, Informative

    If they become an established content providor it will force torrents to be treated like an intrenched pipeline like cable, satellite, or broadcast.

    1. Re:This is brilliant! by bloodhawk · · Score: 1

      unlikely. unknown content provider with unknown content quality. Even if it is great content it would most like just trigger providers to crack down harder on torrents as many have vested interests in content providers.

    2. Re:This is brilliant! by nospam007 · · Score: 4, Funny

      "If they become an established content providor..."

      They already have been my sole provider for many, many years.

    3. Re:This is brilliant! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You mean the already established internet providers will be "forced" to ask for protection money so they can ensure that the content will be transfered unmolested.

    4. Re:This is brilliant! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      They already have been my sole provider for many, many years.

      You've been awarded the funniest thing all morning award.

    5. Re:This is brilliant! by spire3661 · · Score: 1

      Torrent is a PROTOCOL. Your go-to examples are FTP, HTTP etc. Torrent is already a legitimate source of data, it doesn't need help. Blizzard uses it, practically all Linux distros use it, no one can say it doesn't have legitimate use.

      --
      Good-bye
    6. Re:This is brilliant! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      aye. that was a good one. cheers, fucker!

  2. Timed Exclusive? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    I imagine the shows will be available on bittorrent long after their 30-60 day window...

    1. Re:Timed Exclusive? by gigaherz · · Score: 1

      And long before the window ends...

    2. Re:Timed Exclusive? by johnsnails · · Score: 1

      beat me :s

    3. Re:Timed Exclusive? by Drantin · · Score: 1

      The exclusivity is what is timed, not the availability.

      --
      Actio personalis moritur cum persona. (Dead men don't sue)
  3. Theft by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Will they get upset if someone uploads their exclusive content to another distribution channel with fewer restrictions?

  4. Game of Thrones by jfdavis668 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Isn't Game of Thrones exclusive to BitTorrent already?

    1. Re:Game of Thrones by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      No, there are still some peoplel that watch it on HBO.

    2. Re:Game of Thrones by jfdavis668 · · Score: 3, Funny

      Bittorrent should sue HBO for copyright infringement.

  5. Never heard of these guys. by westlake · · Score: 1
    Rapid Eye Studios has an "Coming soon" webpage.

    The web equivalent of the sign on the whale-shaped car wash that went out of business during the Carter Administration.

    Rapid Eye has three incredibly obscure six month old six minute videos posted to YouTube. Rapid Eye Studios and of course a Facebook page. Children of the Machine

    1. Re:Never heard of these guys. by CurryCamel · · Score: 1

      And last I checked, BitTorrent was a p2p protocol...
      Time marches on, I guess.

  6. Irony by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Ah, the irony, when BitTorrent's exclusives show up on The Pirate Bay.

  7. Pattern by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Incorporate

    Regulate

    Tax

  8. Honeypot? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Anyone who talks about seeing these shows will be marked as a pirate.

  9. Misplaced "only" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    "BitTorrent Originals will ... only be available there for 30 to 60 days."

    Wait, does that mean they will be available there for only 30 to 60 days? (And after that, they won't be available there.)

    Or does it mean that they will be available only there for 30 to 60 days? (They've got a one- or two-month exclusive contract.)

    "After the BitTorrent exclusive window closes, each project will be available through other distribution channels."

    Ah, that explains it. The first sentence could have been clearer.

  10. Is there anything better than bittorrent? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    you know. For stuff. honest question..

    1. Re:Is there anything better than bittorrent? by Enfixed · · Score: 2

      Well, no.

      Name one (affordable) video service that:
      1) Let's me pre-download the full quality video in it's entirety.
      2) Provides it in a format usable on almost any device.
      3) Allows me to copy to another device.
      4) Has every movie I want, not just select titles from specific studios.
      5) Doesn't treat me like I'm a criminal.

      If someone can give me that, my money is theirs. For now Netflix is still sadly the best legal service.

      --
      Sigs are bad for you...