On Wed, Jul 27, 2011 at 3:51 PM, Mark J. <[email protected]> wrote: > > > On Jul 27, 5:35 pm, JW <[email protected]> wrote: >> > It would be somewhat ironic if Fox really went ahead with this plan, >> > because by cutting off online content to the masses, it will almost >> > ensure the last of the big four broadcast networks to have been >> > created will be the first of the big four to close its doors. >> >> No. It just means that people who want to access their stuff online >> will do so "unofficially". It's easy for content providers to forget >> that option exists if they make their channels too inconvenient, but >> they'll be reminded. > > But how many people actually do illegal downloads? And how many of > those who do do so for Fox programming beyond "Fringe" and the Sunday > night cartoons? Sometimes, I think the more ultra-computer-literate > on groups like this one think that everybody else is like them when > they're not. If a teenybop or who missed "Glee" last night and didn't > record it wants to see it and can't watch it online, she'll watch it > on VOD (if their system has it), buy it from iTunes or wait until the > wall comes down in 8 days--just like she buys the songs from iTunes > every week and have made "Cast of Glee" beat out the Beatles for most > appearances on the Billboard Hot 100.
I think you might be grossly underestimating what teens are capable of and willing to do when it comes to illegal downloads. Choosing one torrent site at random, extratorrent.com. the second season finale of Glee is being openly shared by more than 10,000 users. Having taught middle school for a few years, I can tell you they -- like most of the nation -- do not equate file-sharing as theft and see nothing wrong with doing so. The reality is as JW suggested, by erecting the paywall, people who are already illegally downloading programing will be extramotivated to do so, and people who would have watched a free-with-ads version on Hulu won't bother to wait. Also remember that as a teenager, if a show is popular and you are eight days behind in watching it, your popularity will decline. Yes, many people are buying the shows and the songs, but people are also watching for free online. Remove the foundation, buildings start to crumble. -- Kevin M. (RPCV) -- TV or Not TV .... The Smartest (TV) People! You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TV or Not TV" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/tvornottv?hl=en
