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What Digital Distribution Model Would Drive You From Piracy?

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I want a platform where I can find everything and won't have to download/subscribe to another service just for one show. I want new episodes and movies to be available right after they air. And I want to pay a fixed price for unlimited viewing of TV and movies that are out of theaters. It all has to be fast, intuitive and extremely easy to access.

I believe something like this would massively decrease piracy numbers.
 
On PC yes but.. try watching it on consoles without paying

Why would I watch it in SD on PC's?

The day Hulu went SD is the day I haven't used it.

Thankfully my DVR and Netflix have taken care of 80% of things.

The other 20%? It's shit I found out about in later seasons and I'm waiting to watch.
 
Author speaks about his initial reaction to his book being pirated:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Qkyt1wXNlI

Love that 2:00 mark discussion:

"how many of you found your favorite author by being lent it? And how many because you walked into a bookstore and just bought a book by that author."

Edit: I'm removing all this, because while I'm showing the positive things that can happen by getting free copies of media, if I get someone on their bad day I might get banned just because.
 
A service that offers me every film I want to watch, under 1gb per files (damn bandwidth caps) and fast to download. Under 20$ per month. That would be my dream.
 
It'd be cool to be able to buy .ISO files or whatever of BluRays. They could offer some really nice converting software too so you could just squeeze it down to whatever tickles your fancy at a certain moment.
 
- Flatrate (lets say 20 Euro per month) so i can watch as much as i want and when i want
- movies and TV shows available at the same time they come out in other parts of the world
- huge backlog of old films and shows
- HD quality if the source allows it
- reliable servers, no speed issues

I would say anything that doesn't follow these requirements is a worse service then what pirates provide.
 
Give me cheaper/digital japanese music. Buying music from CDJapan,YesAsia etc. is so expensive and takes a long time to arrive :(
 
Pay $9 a month for unlimited everything, like the old Netflix.

I'd pay $20 a month or more for that. Only problem is internet still isn't quite good enough and the quality of streams still isn't perfect. To be fair though, I may have pirated in the past, sure, but I'm also a HEAVY media buyer and have spent thousands on DVD's, Blu'rays, CD's etc. Not saying it makes it right, but I remember reading some research a while back that mentioned many piraters also put the most amount of money back in to the media industry, and honestly, I'd believe it.
 
No price differences in quality (I want 720p/5.1 audio standard for films, FLAC/ALAC as top audio quality all the same price in their respective mediums, $5 for an album, $5-$8 for movies, a buck per episode for Tv shows).
Option to purchase physical copy for an extra $10-$15 (depends on what kind of release it is)
Give the artists/production more money
No DRM
No proprietary program/hardware
 
I'd want a streaming service with a backlog of basically all major television programs. I can purchase unlimited streaming rights to the current season for a flat fee. Something like 1 dollar per 30 minute episode (2 for hour long eps) for an entire season. I would be able to stream any show from that season as many times as I wanted and it could even be prefixed with a 30 second commercial as long as the rest of the episode is ad free. They could even offer cheaper ad free versions for 50% off.

In order to let new shows blossom, offer the first few episodes of a new show for free then have them pay for the rest of the season. Seems like a good way to get a lot of eyeballs on new content.

If there was something like this I would purchase season passes for at least 6 cable shows (The League, Sunny, Archer, Weeds, Game of Thrones, Boardwalk Empire).
 
I think most people would be happy with Hulu or a Hulu style service if the selection wasn't arbitrarily limited to "Only 5 episodes" and "Don't get the newest episode until a week late". Why does that matter? I'm watching your show with ads! You're making money off of me! Why does it matter when or how I'm watching it? Why does it matter that I'm watching it when I find it convenient instead of when you choose to air it? If you make less money that way, then it's your own damn fault for not negotiating better ad rates.

As for movies I think most people would be cool with some sort of on demand service that, again, doesn't arbitrarily limit content just because it's too old or whatever. Sometimes I just decide that I want to watch a movie, and there's no good means to do so. Like, when I saw the latest Mission Impossible movie, I got an itch to watch the old ones. But all the Blockbusters are closed, Redbox wouldn't have them, and I don't subscribe to Netflix. So what did I do? I just didn't watch them. I was willing to directly give Paramount money to let me watch them, but because they were unable to provide an easy way to do so, I didn't.
 
Companies have to get with the times.

For starters, companies have to realize that when they announce a movie/tv show, have trailers, etc...everyone around the world gets access to it immediately. Back in the day, people could launch something in the US and it'd be years before anyone overseas ever hear about it. So whatever old school region timed release bullshit they used to subscribe to no longer applies. If you dont give people legal ways of seeing your content, they will get that content somewhere else because they know it exists. This shit that hulu pulls by being US only just fuels piracy.

Second, people are now used to on demand video. Youtube and various websites have already taught consumers that video entertainment downloads fast and is instantly viewable. Naturally people will take that line of thinking towards hollywood, and they need to respond. Netflix is basically the answer, but they need a model that works with publishers more. 9$ for everything is ridiculous and everyone knows that. However, my parents pay $200+ for 4 cable boxes and STILL dont have easy access to the content they want. I think there is a happy middle ground people will pay for on demand access to content.

If HBOGO gave an online subscription for near $20 I'd bite. But instead, they dont offer any plan, eliminating those without cable to either wait for and overpriced video releases, or pirate
 
Since my computer is hooked up to my TV, digital distribution is fine the way it is right now. I get all the non-premium cable TV I need from the free version of Hulu, movies and older TV shows from Netflix, premium cable shows and movie rentals from Amazon Instant or iTunes, anime from free version of crunchyroll. Hooking a computer up to my TV was a game changer.
 
I really like the way Steam makes it clear that you "own" (well, basically) the right to delete and redownload. Buying digital media seems sketchy without the idea that I'm buying a permanent redownload right for my account on their server. Wii Shop lets you redownload but it isn't transparent about it..... Don't like it.
 
no region streaming.


the web is nationless, why the fuck is everything locked down to the us? they can still run ads on the global scale and still profit from it, why not?
 
Not that I pirate, but one that was available in my region would be enough for me. We live in the global village now content producers, it's time to ditch region specific distribution.

edit: yeah what he said ^
 
i do buy blu ray discs for stuff i love and 3d movies and watch a few things at the cinema, but for everything else im fine with it being digital

for movies
streaming: in the best quality possible for old movies - monthly fee like netflix is fine
renting digitally: for new movies released day one, price should be same as a movie ticket
downloading digitally: high quality video to buy digitally for a cheaper price than the disc version

for tv
streaming: in the best quality possible for old tv shows - monthly fee like netflix
renting digitally: for new shows, option to buy a series pass or rent individual eps - dont price it stupidly
downloading digitally: option to buy whole seasons or box sets digitally for a little less than disc versions


1. make it available to as many people as possible
2. make it available from day one and in high quality
3. dont try and extort people with the pricing


if that doesn't make a dent in piracy i dont know what will
 
Region free services like Netflix and Hulu would probably stop 90% of the piracy coming from europe

and south america.

hell, even i can't fucking use crunchyroll because "omg it's not on the us and we don't like your money even if it's the equivalent on dollars"


fuck you regions, FUCK. YOU.
 
Region free services like Netflix and Hulu would probably stop 90% of the piracy coming from europe

Company heads cant get it through their skulls that people all over the world arent willing to wait for strategically timed releases. Release worldwide at the same time when it comes to releases that are available online
 
Have to agree with everyone regarding region locks.

I'd looooooooooove to buy music from the Amazon Music Store. iTunes in Australia is still really expensive. $20 for an album, and on top of that you have to have to use iTunes, which is annoying in itself. As it is I buy direct from the artist or in the case of indies, their record label, but if I could buy from the Amazon music store I would.

I managed to get Netflix in Australia, but I had to do a DNS work around. It's easy, but it's still an extra step. I'd also pay double if it had a bigger library with timelier releases.
 
For the people calling for everything to be region free. I dont think studios have control over that, its mostly a sovereignty issue with countries.
Take Canada for example, without restrictions it would be VERY easy for 95% of tv/movie entertainment dollars to leave the country permanently, and into americas pockets.


So alot of people are gonna disagree with me but I dont think any form of DD will be able to combat piracy. The studios best bet to fend off piracy is to hold onto packaged media as long as they can cause once everything goes digital, thats the end of home video. Unless a form of SOPA goes through for them. Its also why theyre pushing for cloud content. Watching movies that arent on your harddrive, regulated directly by the studios is the ultimate form of drm.
 
Decent, fair (as in worldwide fairness) prices.
No region locking.
Good quality.
Subtitles (at least in English) for all content.

Fot TV shows, it would be cool to have various kind of subscriptions, such as per episode, per season, or per series.
Also, the Pilots should be all free to watch.

I don't know about the rent thing, i like having the product ready to use, like on dvd/bluray or like on steam, but i'd be more than willing to try it out.

Opening online content to other countries would already be a HUGE thing, though.
 
For the people calling for everything to be region free. I dont think studios have control over that, its mostly a sovereignty issue with countries.
Take Canada for example, without restrictions it would be VERY easy for 95% of tv/movie entertainment dollars to leave the country permanently, and into some american moguls pockets.

Australia has local content quotas for television but that doesn't have anything to do with region locking.

Here's an example - Homeland premiered in Australia last night on a FTA TV station. It got 1.2 million viewers (taking into account the population disparities, that's about 15 million in the US).

Now, I can guarantee that figure will decline over the run of the series. Why? Because every episode is easily available online to be pirated right now. That's all because the local TV station waited six months to air the thing in the first place.
 
Something where you can pay not more than 20 bucks a month that gets you unlimited movie, tv and music streaming. On top of that, give users the options to buy said media. ITunes has reasonable prices for tv and music but movies are too high.
As you buy content you build up a points system that you can redeem them for free media content. You'd have to build it up fast though. If I have to spend $100 bucks to get a free album, that isn't exactly worth it.
 
For the people calling for everything to be region free. I dont think studios have control over that, its mostly a sovereignty issue with countries.
Take Canada for example, without restrictions it would be VERY easy for 95% of tv/movie entertainment dollars to leave the country permanently, and into americas pockets.


So alot of people are gonna disagree with me but I dont think any form of DD will be able to combat piracy. The studios best bet to fend off piracy is to hold onto packaged media as long as they can cause once everything goes digital, thats the end of home video. Unless a form of SOPA goes through for them. Its also why theyre pushing for cloud content. Watching movies that arent on your harddrive, regulated directly by the studios is the ultimate form of drm.

well, tell your country to stop making shitty tv shows. it's not anyone's fault the good stuff is mostly on the us of a
 
Pay $9 a month for unlimited everything, like the old Netflix.

This is not in the cards. Even if every household in the US signed up, that would be about 12 billion dollars revenue. Compare that to 2009 total spending on home entertainment rentals and sales of $20.0 billion. (source)
 
For the people calling for everything to be region free. I dont think studios have control over that, its mostly a sovereignty issue with countries.
Take Canada for example, without restrictions it would be VERY easy for 95% of tv/movie entertainment dollars to leave the country permanently, and into americas pockets.
The best way would be of course give the country, where the DD user lives, its fair share from the profit. But yeah, I guess some people wouldn't like that.
 
Digital Distribution Model? Just don't try to sell me BDs for 25 euros (~35$).

For sitcoms and TV shows... make something better than piracy. Make everything easily accessible, from every device. Streaming sports would make me subscribe right now, even if internet down here sucks a lot.
 
Australia has local content quotas for television but that doesn't have anything to do with region locking.

Here's an example - Homeland premiered in Australia last night on a FTA TV station. It got 1.2 million viewers (taking into account the population disparities, that's about 15 million in the US).

Now, I can guarantee that figure will decline over the run of the series. Why? Because every episode is easily available online to be pirated right now. That's all because the local TV station waited six months to air the thing in the first place.
Im not saying it isnt hurting studios. But your local economy doesnt care about hollywood studios, even if it took 6 months to show at least an australian tv station is getting a cut.

well, tell your country to stop making shitty tv shows. it's not anyone's fault the good stuff is mostly on the us of a
lol I dont even watch local news. I only get my news from Brooke on CNN HD.
 
DVD/Bluray: EVERY disc has to have a digital copy. I can watch a movie while connected to the internet, or I can download a copy that has an expiration date. Full price $20

Digital Download (unlimited digital ownership): Every studio has there own service (because lets face it, everything under one banner is not going to happen). Comes with special features $15. No special features $12. None of this full price for half a DVD and I can't even own.
 
Not that I pirate, but something like Hulu is worthless if it doesn't have all current season episodes for streaming the day after they air. Last year my mom missed the last 4 or 5 mins of a show (I think it was the Mentalist) due to the show running longer than the DVR recorded for. She tried to view the ending on CBS.com and hulu and neither had it.

She hasn't watched an episode this year.
 
Disclaimer I don't pirate.

Ă€ la carte Model:

Music: like today but better availability of old/foreign/rare songs
Movies: 5$ rental for new movies 1-3$ for movies older than 24 months original language and subtitles as an option (+dub of all spoken languages of the country the service operates in, if available)
Games: Steam service that uses no or Steam-like DRM with Blizzards costumer support
Books/Audio books: Amazon and Audible are perfect IMO but they need to get even more contend on their services.

Legislation:
No criminal charge for leechers, you get fined up to 10x the price of the digital product-class you pirated (for Music 1-1.5$, Movies 5-10$ etc.). If no digital (with one and only one DRM standard apart from no DRM) version exists for purchase in his territory the violator can't be fined.

The fines for piracy distributors are about right.
 
The best way would be of course give the country, where the DD user lives, its fair share from the profit. But yeah, I guess some people wouldn't like that.

Couldn't this provide a nice chance for competition and improvement, though?
Ok, the US has the best TV Shows by far, so how come every other country is basically brainwashed into thinking that it's the norm to simply bounce back American entertainment, instead of improving in-house-produced stuff quality? I can't speak for other countries, but i know for a fact that the stuff that gets produced here in Italy is 90% crap.
Yes, we may not have the budget that the US are sporting, but regardless of that, they don't even try, the writing, the acting, the effort is simply lacking terribly, because they take for granted that you fill most of your television space with stuff imported from (mainly) the US.

So i say once we unlock regional blocks, they MUST become more competitive and produce better thought out stuff.

There's a similar problem with cinema, but it's more strictly related to budget there, and infact, i can't complain about European cinema at all, on the contrary.
 
Is this type of discussion even allowed here? I've been banned for things like this way back when. =p

i think it is allowed:

E. Emulation/Piracy

The topics of emulation and piracy, including the technical nature of emulators and ROM images, hardware modification technology, as well as their effect on the industry as a political topic are deemed to be generally acceptable.

Linking to pirate download sites, directions on how to get pirated software to work, reviews or impressions of pirated software will all result in the banning of the user in question.
 
$2 for a tv episode, $10 for new release movies, $5 for back catalog movies. No DRM.

I love my itunes TV, I just wish the prices were a bit lower.

$15 for a non-HD file of the Life Aquatic? No thanks.

Hell no. I'm sure as fuck not paying $40 to watch a season of Lost. $200 to watch the series... fuck that.

$5 to rent a season would get me in.
 
Hell no. I'm sure as fuck not paying $40 to watch a season of Lost. $200 to watch the series... fuck that.

$5 to rent a season would get me in.

HA! $5? Never, ever going to happen.

$2 an episode is more than fair. After the reason is finished they could start offering entire seasons at a reduced price.

Media companies need to start embrace the purchase of dd versions of tv show and movies.
 
We need more money put into public broadcasting then? I agree, but I don't think you know what you're saying.

Mostly a reference to Top Gears producers and cast giving shout outs to a major fan blog that posts torrents to the show minutes after it airs because they just don't care.
 
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