This is the problem? Sorry, I believe this is the side effect of the problem, that the studios have prioritized copy protection and anti-piracy above user experience.
So true!
I read once some one's comparison of piracy (bittorent) and DVDs being so handy to write and copy to the VHS era. Studios complained that people could record movies from the TV and copy original tapes, and then they wouldn't go watch the movie in theaters or buy the original tape. Turned out it was the other way around... The copies or recordings didn't provide the same quality as the original tape nor the same experience as going to the cinema.
IMO it's the same thing nowadays... I've heard people say they watched a downloaded telecine or telesync ar even a demo DVD rip and still say "That movie is awesome. I'm definitely going to the cinema to see it!". And I've heard people say they bought the original box set of some TV series they liked even when they had at home a complete set of DVDs with the series... tvrips, dvdrips, with variable resolutions and/or quality, with no/out of sync/poorly translated subtitles... On the other hand, there are movies and shows that people see (downloaded from the internet) and don't consider worth going to the cinema or buying a DVD... That's kind of a natural selection! (BTW, did anyone notice that, although piracy is so widely spread, their box office is bigger and bigger with every good movie? And I think the same goes for TV shows audience!)
That's what the audience wants these days: convenience, choice and quality!
How's this for a business model:
Set up a bittorent tracker where you would let people download for free down sampled versions of your movies/TV show at the same time with their theatrical release/TV airing. I think people would swarm right in to get the content they want right from the source and watch it right when they want to: immediately after it's available! Also, such a tracker would be a great place for advertising, eCommerce, movie rating and reviewing, releasing trailers (and seeing how the audience reacts before releasing the actual movie)... plus you could embed commercials in the content itself! People wouldn't mind, as long as they get what they want for free! And while browsing your tracker, they would always be one click away from buying the actual DVD, complete with subtitles and extras and stuff...
Slashdot Mirror
I read once some one's comparison of piracy (bittorent) and DVDs being so handy to write and copy to the VHS era. Studios complained that people could record movies from the TV and copy original tapes, and then they wouldn't go watch the movie in theaters or buy the original tape. Turned out it was the other way around... The copies or recordings didn't provide the same quality as the original tape nor the same experience as going to the cinema.
IMO it's the same thing nowadays... I've heard people say they watched a downloaded telecine or telesync ar even a demo DVD rip and still say "That movie is awesome. I'm definitely going to the cinema to see it!". And I've heard people say they bought the original box set of some TV series they liked even when they had at home a complete set of DVDs with the series... tvrips, dvdrips, with variable resolutions and/or quality, with no/out of sync/poorly translated subtitles... On the other hand, there are movies and shows that people see (downloaded from the internet) and don't consider worth going to the cinema or buying a DVD... That's kind of a natural selection! (BTW, did anyone notice that, although piracy is so widely spread, their box office is bigger and bigger with every good movie? And I think the same goes for TV shows audience!)
That's what the audience wants these days: convenience, choice and quality!
How's this for a business model:
Set up a bittorent tracker where you would let people download for free down sampled versions of your movies/TV show at the same time with their theatrical release/TV airing. I think people would swarm right in to get the content they want right from the source and watch it right when they want to: immediately after it's available! Also, such a tracker would be a great place for advertising, eCommerce, movie rating and reviewing, releasing trailers (and seeing how the audience reacts before releasing the actual movie)... plus you could embed commercials in the content itself! People wouldn't mind, as long as they get what they want for free! And while browsing your tracker, they would always be one click away from buying the actual DVD, complete with subtitles and extras and stuff...