I know it is, not questioning it but why?

What you ask - Tv show downloads.

Movies, yes, cinema then dvd sales, downloading these are not on.

But Tv shows I think are a bit different, Even if they are US not yet aired shows in Uk for example.

I may be wrong in my comments but I wanted a chat about it anyway see what the view is out there.

Now I agree if you dont own something like Sky your pay your TV Fees it is not on, but if you have these and do, why is it illegal to be downloading shows?
Reason I think it should not be the case is becuase you have access to these shows free in a sence for most (freeview if you will channels as longas you pay your tv fee) and some you pay for.
I miss a lot of tv or I miss 5 episodes of smallvile (yes i do watch it, i like it, so shoot me) and i download them. In the Eyes that be this  is a no no.
But i missed them, I could have recorded them, but instead I have my personal copy on my pc instead to watch, im not selling it. I Have payed to watch it, I just did not see it on tv but watching it via a download on my pc. Hyperthetically speaking of course.

So any Shows on the freeview Tv that have been shown, I should download 1 version of for myself since its free and I pay my tv fee. Sky stuff I pay my monthly fee, record some things onto disk to watch back (whch is basically the same thing on a recordable dvd as having it on your pc) I may miss something and not record it, but I payed for it  to be viewed to my home so why cant i download and watch it?
Same with some movies really, although getting a bit more grey here, shown on sky movies 1, If I download it, its being sent to me to my sky, I just missed and have it to watch in my bedroom on pc instead.

The grey area with tv shows would be downloading US shows but not shown in the UK yet but still.. They will be shown here, still paying for my tv, so why cant I watch them?
I know this is a bit more "well no you shouldnt"

I know sky and others now offer broadband tv download, but lets face it they suck.
The quality of the top gear episodes are crap, and the sky stuff you have to verifiy and download in a stupid way and only last a short time on your pc.

Video and tv dvd recorders are there, its practically the same thing if you keep them to watch time and time again, you just have files on a pc instead, so whats the deal?


As I said, movies are different, more or less a very hard "No you shouldnt" and i agree, but here i feel after a while, it is ran out of being a money earner it should loose its rights and be free for all. Not like its not going to then cost Sony or who ever billions of pounds when people download a movie thats 20 years old and shown on five every other week or something.
Dark Crystal I have not seen in years and it would be cool to download that, or Terrahawks, or some other 80s movie classics.

Copying of Dvd movies and Tv shows though yes, again are a no no.

Not saying I am right in anyway, but still asking Why here, I dont really get it with tv shows.
Sky shows you get your money, but E4, C4 stuff gets their money from the averts and there is always millions watchig tv.

IF they just allowed some more things, let movies run dry and say "free for all now" after a while, and allow tv shows and be more clear cut on whats allowed.
It would give a better light to the comunities out there. Look at music downloads, some are not cheap and the way of formats can be an issue, although some sites now offer good value and multiple format downloads and good quality - People do like and do pay. Yes many out there downlaod songs and do not pay, But a lot of people pay, and like being legal and pay as long as the price is fair.

advertisement revenue.

Breach of copyright and what Max said.  Making shows costs money and they get that money through advertising and through selling the programme to other TV companies abroad.

BBC controls pretty much everything they do within the UK so they can stick it on their website, but that only applies to uk residents.  BBC also sells programmes, eg Dr Who is a lovely money spinner, as was The weakest link among others.

They are not really decent reasons, like you can throw at dvd copying etc.

As I sais, you pay still, the adverts are still there and having money given to the channels, sky your paying for, So nothing changing.

I get Top Gear online, as I usually work Sunday nights, thier are illegal issues in it but mostly legal for things like that....

Quote from: neXusThey are not really decent reasons, like you can throw at dvd copying etc.

As I sais, you pay still, the adverts are still there and having money given to the channels, sky your paying for, So nothing changing.

tis fairly obvious tbh... as max said - it is mostly down to revenue

point is - you download shows from illegal sources - you dont watch the adverts - thus if loads of people did it the TV companies would get less revenue - it would cost them money if everyone did it.

They own the copyright or distribution rights it is up to them to decide who gets to see it. As far as the BBC is concerned a lot of thier shows do get put on the net but they still have the right to control the content
& still make money from selling shows abroad and selling videos DVDs etc.. which in turn provides revenue for more shows.

So if I record it on my PVR, and fast forward the adverts?

The reason is quite simple as far as the law makes it.  

Yes it is legal to record something that is broadcasted, be it radio, tv etc for your own personnal use.  What you do not have the rights to do is share or distribute that recording.

That is why it is illegal, because those sharing the file do not have the rights to do so.

It is illegal to download from a non-licensed source, but you can download from BBC or ITV or SKY becuase they have paid for the show and pay the royalites for distribution.

IF you miss a show, that does no entitle you to a free copy at a later date, it is the broadcasters choice to make available shows they have purchased. Youre licence fee grants you free TV broadcasts, it is the broadcasters decision to air shows at their own discrection.

Quote from: Dave

Quote from: neXusThey are not really decent reasons, like you can throw at dvd copying etc.

As I sais, you pay still, the adverts are still there and having money given to the channels, sky your paying for, So nothing changing.

tis fairly obvious tbh... as max said - it is mostly down to revenue

point is - you download shows from illegal sources - you dont watch the adverts - thus if loads of people did it the TV companies would get less revenue - it would cost them money if everyone did it.

They own the copyright or distribution rights it is up to them to decide who gets to see it. As far as the BBC is concerned a lot of thier shows do get put on the net but they still have the right to control the content
& still make money from selling shows abroad and selling videos DVDs etc.. which in turn provides revenue for more shows.

As soopahfly says, there are some recorders or you record the show for someone else both cases will pause on adverts and remove them.
Does that make it illegal then?

Yeah, I know illegal in temrs of the sharing, fo course, the point i was making is having the file of the show on the pc, The sharing is illegal but why is having the file as said for personal use from or could be a recording.
Ok for it to be on tape, there is moans about dvd recorders, and its a no if its on your pc, media pc - whats the point?

Its just so greay and so misty its silly, it need to be clear cut and some things opened up at least in terms of the tv shows.
And if they are going to offer it via the net they best be sorting out the quality.

It is clear cut.

You are allowed to record TV broadcast programs for your own archival.

You are not allowed to distribute this content, nor obtain it from unlicenced resources.

Easy peasy as it can be.

By downloading tv episodes by bit torrent you are breaking both parts of the 2nd one, as BT requires you to upload at the same time.

There are no grey areas when it comes to PVRs HTPCs or DVD-Recorders. They are perfectly legal to record content that they would have access to either automated (i.e. video plus style) or by someone physically pushing the record button.

What is illegal is the distribution of the material, and the obtaining it from unlicenced sources (your effectively handling stolen goods).

Quote from: CypherThe reason is quite simple as far as the law makes it.  

Yes it is legal to record something that is broadcasted,

The law says not, however, following the Sony Betamax case in the US nobody is going to bother trying to enforce it in the UK, you arent going to get sued because you have a load of recorded TV programmes. TBH if they did then there would be standing room only in the jails...

As for the original post, the company who owns the rights to the material gives a right to use it to the broadcaster, having it transmitted across the web isnt usually included in this so downloading off the web would rate as piracy.

If you download a recording off the web of a song that its piracy, it makes no difference if the song has been ripped from a CD or a radio/TV proggie. Same thing with programmes.

QuoteYeah, I know illegal in temrs of the sharing, fo course, the point i was making is having the file of the show on the pc, The sharing is illegal but why is having the file as said for personal use from or could be a recording.
Ok for it to be on tape, there is moans about dvd recorders, and its a no if its on your pc, media pc - whats the point?

just think about it for a bit - someone needs to distribute it - unless that person is the a company that owns the rights to do this then they shouldnt be allowed to - reason - well in most instances the loss of revenue (both advertising & from other sales)

if everyone could just distribute whatever digital media they wanted legally then there would be a massive loss of revenue TV production. Why pay several million for the exclusive rights to XYZ show when loads of other media sources are distributing the thing anyway.

So what you end up with is the only way they can make money, boring phone in quiz shows...

And the BBC...

thing is even the BBC needs to protect distribution - it makes a lot of revenue from sales of rights to programs to other TV companies abroad for a start. IIRC they might also have advertising on some of the overseas BBC channels.