So, as you may have heard, people watch lots of stuff online. In fact, they watch so much online that many people no longer even have cable. Because it’s like expensive. And we’re kinda in a recession. That makes cable companies cry. So what happens? Networks (like FOX) then pull back their online distribution of existing TV shows so cable can stay in business. After all, they’ve been BFFs for a long time. And really, why give away shows for free online when you can get people to pay for cable?
One of the cable-friendly tactics by FOX was to make their shows available ONLY to people who pay for a cable provider, through an authentication process. Problem is — if they pay for cable, they are likely watching these shows there, because you know, they paid for it. The people watching the shows online likely do NOT have cable. Hence, why they’re watching it online. The other rather large problem is that the only licensing deal Fox has arranged for this is with the DISH Network, so if you don’t have the DISH Network as your cable provider, then it doesn’t even remotely matter if you pay for cable. You could be paying up a storm to, say, Comcast, DirecTV, TimeWarner, Cox, FIOS, Cablevision. You will still have to wait 8 days to watch FOX shows online.
This is supposedly part of an effort to combat piracy. Bummer because it totally did the opposite.
According to this article by TechCrunch, just a week after Fox pulled back its licensing so that non-DISH subscribing members of Hulu/Fox.com cannot view episodes until 8 DAYS AFTER TV BROADCAST, piracy totally increased. Because there are now 8 days where people can only watch torrents. (They’re illegal, of course, so don’t do that. Silly silly.)
I mention this because this is clearly NOT about piracy. The internet generation cannot wait 8 days. They can barely wait 8 seconds for a site to render. Instant gratification is what the internet is about. Networks know this. This is about cable providers.
I don’t have an issue with Fox’s 8 day pay-window. I do have an issue with the access being limited to those who pay for cable, not those who pay for HULU Plus. While I agree that we have to change the model so that online video is not being given away for free (I, for one, want to make a living) or worse yet, stolen (because that’s just rude), I do believe that these “pull backs” are really just about cable pulling a temper tantrum. Unfortunately, online media aint going to go away because you slammed the door to your bedroom in a huff.
When it comes down to a war of online media vs. cable, currently cable kicks our toddler behind in the pressure and guilt-trip department because it is older and it’s got a checking account. And hey, I like cable. I pay for it. I watch it. I don’t even have HULU Plus. I’d actually like to hang out with cable. I kind of dig what cable’s done.
But this is kind of like having an older brother that ignores you and tells tales on you because you stole Mommy’s attention. It never works. All that happens is: the baby sibling gets more attention because of all the trouble you caused.
Anyway, I kinda like it. It just proves we’re at a crossroads. Someday, we’ll all be able to sit at a dinner table together and think about how to do this as a team. Of course, we might be kicking each other under the table, but at least, we’ll put on a good show.
DARYN
Waiting a few extra days doesn’t bother me a bit. The only reason we haven’t got rid of cable is because my husband enjoys news talk shows that aren’t available online. He’s actually debating whether he can live without them. Haven’t looked to see if we can get his favorites via torrent or not.
this stinks for me, because I pay for cable (i have comcast, why the heck did they pick dish network?) and would watch glee at its regularly scheduled time if i didn’t have to work until 9pm,, so i was planning on catching up online. It will be impossible to avoid spoilers for 8 days from my friends who were able to watch it on the original airdate