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Is downloading tv shows illegal/immoral?

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Sure it's illegal. But, the current anti consumer television market is immoral, so I have no guilt when I download Mad Men.
 
Is it illegal? Yes.
Is it immoral? I can't see how people could justify the morality of downloading a show for which they don't already have access to (e.g. downloading Game of Thrones when one doesn't subscribe to HBO). If it's a show on a channel which you already subscribe to, then I'd say morality is a gray area.
 
Saint Nick said:
IMO, it is a gray area. With the advent of personal recording since the 70s with magnetic tape devices (VHS, casette), people have been able to record things for a while. It didn't seem to be a big problem back then, but then again, the internet has changed everything.

Someone who doesn't own a TV or a media recorder can just log onto the internet and get it from their buddies online or through a torrent tracker. I would say that distribution is a larger concern for them rather than the act of just recording it. If you would just record it and never distribute it, I guess that's not a problem in my eyes.
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If you were recording programs off of cable TV, that you paid for, then it wouldn't be the same as downloading the same content that has no cost for entry.

Recording network programming compared to downloading the same...hmm, I can't see how that is different in this situation.

assuming you download the advertising that comes with it.
 
So when you say it's stealing, are you only referring to "pay channels" and cable that you aren't paying for? Because I fail to see how downloading OTA channels is any different than TiVo and/or VCR recording
 
legality largely depends from whom i'm downloading. i've downloaded a ton of shows from hulu and those are all properly licensed. if i were to download from megaupload, probably not unless there was some fair use exception carve out (i don't think there is).
 
ImpulsE69 said:
So when you say it's stealing, are you only referring to "pay channels" and cable that you aren't paying for? Because I fail to see how downloading OTA channels is any different than TiVo and/or VCR recording
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How are the show's creators going to get credit when you don't watch the commercials? Even if you do watch the commercials from a rip(highly unlikely since almost all rips edit them out), the show's creators still do not get credit.

It's crappy, but watching TV rips is illegal and immoral. I think the act is made slightly less immoral since broadcasters are so heavily resisting the move to digital broadcasting.
 
Im the worst offender. Every show I watch I download the torrent of, I NEVER sit on the couch and channel surf or watch anything, havent in years
 
ss284 said:
How are the show's creators going to get credit when you don't watch the commercials? Even if you do watch the commercials from a rip(highly unlikely since almost all rips edit them out), the show's creators still do not get credit.

It's crappy, but watching TV rips is illegal and immoral. I think the act is made slightly less immoral since broadcasters are so heavily resisting the move to digital broadcasting.
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Is taking a piss or getting a snack during the commercial illegal and immoral too?
 
zinfamous said:
If you were recording programs off of cable TV, that you paid for, then it wouldn't be the same as downloading the same content that has no cost for entry.

Recording network programming compared to downloading the same...hmm, I can't see how that is different in this situation.

assuming you download the advertising that comes with it.
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Wait, so if someone who pays for cable records the show, watches it later, and fast forwards through the commercials (there are VCRs that automatically mark commercials and will autoskip them) that's OK.

What if that same person who still pays for cable downloaded a show from the internet?

The end results is the same, they watch the show they want whenever they want with no commercials.
 
So many TV Stations/Networks offer their shows for Free Streaming these days, that it hardly seems worth the effort. At least check for a legal source first before bothering with Torrent. You might be surprised at how easy it is to get legit sources of what you want.
 
ss284 said:
How are the show's creators going to get credit when you don't watch the commercials? Even if you do watch the commercials from a rip(highly unlikely since almost all rips edit them out), the show's creators still do not get credit.

It's crappy, but watching TV rips is illegal and immoral. I think the act is made slightly less immoral since broadcasters are so heavily resisting the move to digital broadcasting.
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You assume I watch commercials anyway. People who videotape/tivo don't watch commercials. When commercials come on, I flip channels or go do something else.

I admit I too am bad about this because I like to watch TV on my own time. I can't always stick to their schedule.
 
sandorski said:
So many TV Stations/Networks offer their shows for Free Streaming these days, that it hardly seems worth the effort. At least check for a legal source first before bothering with Torrent. You might be surprised at how easy it is to get legit sources of what you want.
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That can be watched on the stations website and only in approved browsers on approved OSes.

No thanks, I'll continue choose to watch things when i want, where I want, and on whatever device I want. When the studios get that through their thick skull, they'll get my money.
 
Illegal yes, immoral I think not. I absolutely hate how media corporations force you to consumer their products. F Drm, commercials, trailers, trusted platforms, etc. The pirates offer a better product, and it is free.
 
Who still uses torrents/p2p to download TV shows? Quality is crap (480p, low bit rate) and speeds are slow. 😵
 
Illegal, not immoral. I don't know how anyone who can think for themselves would think copying a good idea is immoral.

Immoral is bribing politicians into extending copyright to ludicrous lengths. Disney and their accomplices have basically stolen public domain. They did it legally, but I would call our current copyright laws immoral.
 
I refuse to answer under the grounds that might insinerate me.

So do the right thing, don't burn in hell. 😛
 
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Definitely illegal. I justify it morally by saying if I'm downloading new episodes, then I can't buy them on DVD/blu-ray so is anybody losing money? Plus if I had a DVR I would be able to record and watch them anyway... so what's the big deal? Right? RIGHT?

But that also implies one would then buy the discs when released. Plus with the rising popularity of buying digital copies from itunes and the like, it's not as logical as it used to be.
 
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