Game of Thrones premiere sets piracy record

[shortylickens]

I'm not happy with piracy or pirates, but the shit companies do only punishes legit buyers. Its irritating and makes me wanna slap somebody.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

No, but HBO has implemented a system whereby you must subscribe to multiple expensive monthly services that include all sorts of things that many people don't even want just to legitimately watch their show. That's actually more frustrating than dealing with DRM.

It would be like if Steam required you to pay them a monthly fee, and also required you to purchase a gym membership from a particular gym, and also get a cell phone service, and only then could you play any of their games.

You can't just "pay for" Game Of Thrones. You have to pay for all sorts of other shit that you may not want at all in order to see it. If you had read the thread you'd see there are many people who would be willing to pay for Game Of Thrones. There are lots of people who bought the DVDs when they came out (which was like, a year after the episodes aired).

I'm not saying that downloading GoT is "right," but the situation is totally different from how you portray it.

HBO makes GoT available on DVD/BD eventually so anyone can watch the show without the need for an HBO subscription or even cable service. So you CAN just pay for GoT. All it takes is some patience, something that is apparently in short supply these days.

 

[AstroManLuca]

HBO makes GoT available on DVD/BD eventually so anyone can watch the show without the need for an HBO subscription or even cable service. So you CAN just pay for GoT. All it takes is some patience, something that is apparently in short supply these days.

Maybe so, but HBO doesn't lose any money if you download the show and then buy the DVDs.

Then again, there are a lot of people who download the show and then DON'T buy the DVDs.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Maybe so, but HBO doesn't lose any money if you download the show and then buy the DVDs.

Then again, there are a lot of people who download the show and then DON'T buy the DVDs.

Sure they lose money. People who are downloading the show are doing so to avoid paying for an HBO subscription. And I would venture to guess that those same people are not likely candidates to buy the DVD once it comes out. No doubt a few do but it's likely a very low percentage.

 

[Red Storm]

Sure they lose money. People who are downloading the show are doing so to avoid paying for an HBO subscription. And I would venture to guess that those same people are not likely candidates to buy the DVD once it comes out. No doubt a few do but it's likely a very low percentage.

Not necessarily. Those people more than likely watch because of the free (and illegal) methods of doing so. If you took that option away they'd more than likely just not watch at all.

 

[SheHateMe]

HBO isn't fueling anything. Pirates and people who seem to think that it is their absolute right to do anything they wish with media content are fueling piracy.

The entire shitstorm didn't start because companies like HBO implemented some sort of DRM restrictions, which then pissed people off so they searched for a way around it. People starting stealing content purely to avoid paying for it so media companies began searching for ways to protect that content.

If HBO made GoT available to purchase for people who don't want to buy HBO...maybe they would have a lot less people pirating their show.

Piracy is a customer service issue in this case. Judging from the thread, there are tons of people here ready and willing to pay and HBO is saying "screw you".

Personally, I wouldn't be "stealing" GoT after it airs if the damn xfinity website for Comcast worked...but no, the flash plugin crashes..I lose progress on my shows, I have to deal with COMMERCIALS too. Screw that. I have HBO but I always miss episodes of shows because of school and work. I want to watch it on my own time. I run into a lot of barriers just trying to do that legitimately. So, I setup Sickbeard to download the episodes. I'm not ashamed of it. After all...I am paying $13/m for this channel.

HBO makes GoT available on DVD/BD eventually so anyone can watch the show without the need for an HBO subscription or even cable service. So you CAN just pay for GoT. All it takes is some patience, something that is apparently in short supply these days.

Eventually as is at the end of the year when the show goes off? What if I wanted to buy episodes on Amazon or iTunes so I can watch with everyone else? Yea, all it takes is some patience...you can wait until 12 months later to get it, or you can just download it.

Who the hell wants to wait a full year? I don't.

If HBO was really hurting that bad over this show being pirated, they probably would have made it more available so people can buy it. As much as companies don't want to come out and say it, the popularity of some forms of media is helped out a lot by piracy. Other countries don't even get access to some of our shows and movies until much later. Especially movies.

HBO programming president Michael Lombardo told Entertainment Weekly recently that the network sees the piracy of "Game of Thrones" as a sign of success more than a problem.

...and there you have it. HBO is not hurting. They're winning. This show is a huge success. I'm sure HBO is swimming in the cash generated from this show. Pirates aren't hurting their pockets.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Not necessarily. Those people more than likely watch because of the free (and illegal) methods of doing so. If you took that option away they'd more than likely just not watch at all.

For a majority of them that might very well be true. But even if only 10% decided to subscribe to HBO so they could watch the show that's still a significant sum. The contention was that HBO doesn't lose any money from illegal downloading and that is simply not true.

 

[Imported]

Maybe so, but HBO doesn't lose any money if you download the show and then buy the DVDs.

Then again, there are a lot of people who download the show and then DON'T buy the DVDs.

I'm probably in the minority, but I bought the blu-rays of S1/S2 after watching the show via downloading it.

Edit: Take that back, I had HBO for season 1 as it was a free trial.. didn't for season 2.

 

[Aikouka]

Personally, I wouldn't be "stealing" GoT after it airs if the damn xfinity website for Comcast worked...but no, the flash plugin crashes..I lose progress on my shows, I have to deal with COMMERCIALS too. Screw that. I have HBO but I always miss episodes of shows because of school and work. I want to watch it on my own time. I run into a lot of barriers just trying to do that legitimately. So, I setup Sickbeard to download the episodes. I'm not ashamed of it. After all...I am paying $13/m for this channel.

You have Comcast's XFINITY service along with a subscription to HBO... so why aren't you using HBO GO? I have both of those as well, and I can log into HBO GO right from my phone and fire up Game of Thrones season 3 episode 1 at this very moment!

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

If HBO made GoT available to purchase for people who don't want to buy HBO...maybe they would have a lot less people pirating their show.

Piracy is a customer service issue in this case. Judging from the thread, there are tons of people here ready and willing to pay and HBO is saying "screw you".

The reason HBO has shows like GoT in the first place is precisely because they want to entice people to buy HBO. HBO has always been a premium cable service and just because a few folks get their collective panties in a bunch because the don't like that particular business model it doesn't mean HBO is going to change that business model any time soon.

Besides that, it's not a "customer service" issue. The vast majority of people pirating their shows aren't customers in the first place and don't intend to be.

Personally, I wouldn't be "stealing" GoT after it airs if the damn xfinity website for Comcast worked...but no, the flash plugin crashes..I lose progress on my shows, I have to deal with COMMERCIALS too. Screw that. I have HBO but I always miss episodes of shows because of school and work. I want to watch it on my own time. I run into a lot of barriers just trying to do that legitimately. So, I setup Sickbeard to download the episodes. I'm not ashamed of it. After all...I am paying $13/m for this channel.

That has nothing to do with HBO, it's an issue with Comcast. Commercials? HBO Go on Verizon has no commercials.

Get an HD Homerun Prime with a cablecard and you can DVR shows without having to pay Comcast a ridiculous DVR fee. Problem solved.

Eventually as is at the end of the year when the show goes off? What if I wanted to buy episodes on Amazon or iTunes so I can watch with everyone else? Yea, all it takes is some patience...you can wait until 12 months later to get it, or you can just download it.

Who the hell wants to wait a full year? I don't.

Yes, the "gotta have it NOW" attitude. What a sad indictment of today's society.

If HBO was really hurting that bad over this show being pirated, they probably would have made it more available so people can buy it. As much as companies don't want to come out and say it, the popularity of some forms of media is helped out a lot by piracy. Other countries don't even get access to some of our shows and movies until much later. Especially movies.

...and there you have it. HBO is not hurting. They're winning. This show is a huge success. I'm sure HBO is swimming in the cash generated from this show. Pirates aren't hurting their pockets.

Strawman argument. Nobody claimed HBO was hurting.

 

[ch33zw1z]

Sure they lose money. People who are downloading the show are doing so to avoid paying for an HBO subscription. And I would venture to guess that those same people are not likely candidates to buy the DVD once it comes out. No doubt a few do but it's likely a very low percentage.

I'm not avoiding the HBO subscription, I'm avoiding the additional ~$60+ worth of other shit I have to buy from Comcast to get the HBO subscription...So I can do things like...feed my kids.

But no biggie, I'll just wait for the DVD's if it comes to that...and I'll get them from my local library

 

[BladeVenom]

Besides that, it's not a "customer service" issue. The vast majority of people pirating their shows aren't customers in the first place and don't intend to be.

Gabe Newell would disagree. "Piracy is almost always a service problem," and Steam has made billions proving it.

 

[SheHateMe]

Yes, the "gotta have it NOW" attitude. What a sad indictment of today's society.

Oh ya, because people actually want to watch the show they are part of the entitlement society.

If HBO made the show available to those without HBO, they'd have a lot less pirates.

And who cares? HBO doesn't care. You read the quote.

 

[Cuda1447]

For a majority of them that might very well be true. But even if only 10% decided to subscribe to HBO so they could watch the show that's still a significant sum. The contention was that HBO doesn't lose any money from illegal downloading and that is simply not true.

Right, but there is also money to be gained from piracy. I'm sure a decent percentage of people end up buying the blu-rays after they watched pirated versions of the show. If they had not pirated the show, they may have never been exposed to it in the first place.

I think that source of revenue may offset the lost revenue from tv subscriptions.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

I'm not avoiding the HBO subscription, I'm avoiding the additional ~$60+ worth of other shit I have to buy from Comcast to get the HBO subscription...So I can do things like...feed my kids.

If that money truly is the difference between feeding your kids or not, then cable TV is clearly not for you.

But no biggie, I'll just wait for the DVD's if it comes to that...and I'll get them from my local library

You already admitted previously in this thread that you pirate it anyway.

 

[SheHateMe]

Lets put this into perspective. I LOVE a British TV show called "Skins". I stumbled upon this show on ThePirateBay about 4 years ago. I only read the comments and people said it was "edgy" and unlike teen shows on American TV. So I had to download it.

What turned into a curious download for a TV show turned into being a diehard fan of the series. Then, the show was on Netflix. Already had a sub for that, awesome. Now I could watch the episodes I didn't download.

Now the show is on Hulu. Already had a sub for that, awesome.....now I get to keep up with the current season.

So yes, I was a pirate (of this show) in the beginning and a customer in the end. Everyone got a piece of cake.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Gabe Newell would disagree. "Piracy is almost always a service problem," and Steam has made billions proving it.

What did Steam prove about Piracy? Game piracy is still rampant. All Steam did was to provide a different model for legally acquiring games. It didn't stop piracy whatsoever.

 

[shortylickens]

What did Steam prove about Piracy? Game piracy is still rampant. All Steam did was to provide a different model for legally acquiring games. It didn't stop piracy whatsoever.

Piracy is not the problem. Lack of profit was the problem (supposedly) and Steam fixed that problem.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Oh ya, because people actually want to watch the show they are part of the entitlement society.

If HBO made the show available to those without HBO, they'd have a lot less pirates.

And who cares? HBO doesn't care. You read the quote.

There's a difference between wanting to watch the show and being an impatient little twit who just can't wait until the DVD comes out.

And you're reading way to far into HBO's response by claiming they don't care. They are trying to put a humorous spin on the situation but I can assure you that if they could put a stop to piracy of GoT tomorrow they would, in a heartbeat.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Piracy is not the problem. Lack of profit was the problem (supposedly) and Steam fixed that problem.

The claim was that piracy was a service problem and Steam fixed that problem. I'm wondering how Steam fixed that problem when piracy is still rampant.

 

[ch33zw1z]

If that money truly is the difference between feeding your kids or not, then cable TV is clearly not for you.


You already admitted previously in this thread that you pirate it anyway.

We can afford Internet, basic cable, and some change. No, cable TV in it's current form isn't for us. We're not alone, quite a few people I know are dropping the extra stuff because they don't even watch the junk anymore crammed full of commercial breaks, and they're cutting expenses as well.

I could, however, shell out another $10-$15 for HBO. But as of now, my bill would double to get HBO. (not including the cost of HBO itself)

My current cable bill is ~$70. And we get netflix for another $8.

Yea, I did admit to that. Which is why I put "if it comes to that". As in, it's not available anymore.

 

[SheHateMe]

There's a difference between wanting to watch the show and being an impatient little twit who just can't wait until the DVD comes out.

Thats your opinion. If HBO was really hurting over the Piracy, they would have made the show available (current episodes) on Amazon and itunes by now.

 

[CZroe]

Want to know what sucks? I bought the blu-rays for season 1 and season 2 and still can't watch them on my computers blu-ray. Their DRM software completely stops my computer from playing the discs. I can play them fine in my PS or blu-ray player though on my TV. but sometimes I want to watch something on my computer instead.

Uhh, do you have Blu-Ray playback software? If not, your problem is no different than the XBOX and Wii not playing DVDs. There is no free player because no one wanted to pay the DVD consortium's royalties. VLC uses reverse-engineered functionality for DVDs that is technically illegal and often flawed (see problems with forced subtitles all the time).

If you really are talking about some kind of copy protection, complain to the author and/or update your playback software.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Thats your opinion. If HBO was really hurting over the Piracy, they would have made the show available (current episodes) on Amazon and itunes by now.

That is your opinion. Your opinion also assumes that HBO would be willing, or contractually capable, to make their shows available on Amazon or iTunes. I wouldn't doubt for a second that HBO has done a number of business studies on that very issue comparing how much revenue would be generated from those sales vs. how many cable subs would be lost in the process, which would reduce the prices they could charge cable providers (and piss off those same cable providers in the process, since the exclusivity of HBO content to cable providers is quite important to them). The fact that HBO hasn't moved to the Amazon/iTunes model is telling.

Piracy is a business loss that HBO accepts as a cost of doing business, just like brick & mortar stores account for stolen merchandise in the same way. That doesn't mean they don't care. It's something they grit their teeth about and allow some PR schmuck to put a smiley face on about it for the media.