The "Oh shit, that's on netflix streaming now?" Thread/Netflix Suggestion

**6souls** · 2013-09-16 10:54

Piracy helps Netflix decide what gets added

Netflix has revealed that it tracks piracy sites to help decide which TV series and films it should add to its online streaming service.

The US firm gave Prison Break as an example of one programme it had bought as a consequence of using the strategy.

Media companies have traditionally seen copyright infringement as a threat to their business.

However, some programme-makers acknowledge there can be benefits.

Netflix's vice president of content acquisition disclosed its use of the technique to Tweakers, a Dutch news site covering the firm's launch in the Netherlands.

"With the purchase of series, we look at what does well on piracy sites," said Kelly Merryman.

"Prison Break is exceptionally popular on piracy sites.

"But there are many programmes that we will not buy, such as The Voice. Such live programmes are better suited for live TV."

Netflix's chief executive, Reed Hastings, had previously told the site that he believed his video-on-demand product might discourage people from using BitTorrent piracy sites because it was easier to use.

However, he admitted that it would not dissuade everyone.

"In Canada BitTorrent is down by 50% since Netflix launched three years ago," he said. "But there's still a lot of people who torrent."

The comments come a fortnight after the creator of the US series Breaking Bad said that piracy had helped his show survive, allowing it to find an audience after "very low viewership" of legal broadcasts of its first episodes.

"Piracy is certainly a double-edged sword," Vince Gilligan told entertainment news site Digital Spy.

"It does disincentivise companies from making their products if they feel they can't earn an honest living off of them, but on the other hand there was an upside to the piracy, because it got the word out in regards to Breaking Bad."

The chief executive of US media firm Time Warner also recently signalled that piracy may have worked in the favour of its HBO show, Game of Thrones.

"It's a tremendous word-of-mouth thing," he said in answer to a question about the subject by a bank analyst.

"Basically we've been dealing with this issue for years at HBO, where, literally... people have always been running wires down the back of apartment buildings and sharing with their neighbours.

"Our experience is, it all leads to more penetration, more paying [subscriptions] and more health for HBO, less reliance on having to do paid advertising.

"I think you're right, that Game of Thrones is the most pirated show in the world. Now that's better than an Emmy."

However, not everyone is so relaxed about the idea.

"Seemingly innocent viewing of TV shows via pirate websites can have consequences," Eddy Leviten, a spokesman for the Federation Against Copyright Theft (Fact) told the BBC.

"The more people who watch via illegal means, the less likely it is for a UK broadcaster to buy the show which in turn reduces the revenues for the programme makers.

"This makes it harder to justify further investment in exciting new shows or the next series of hit shows and will ultimately reduce the choice available to viewers worldwide."

Netflix itself has begun to invest in its own original content.

On Sunday it won two Emmy awards for its political thriller House of Cards - Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series and Outstanding Cinematography for a Single Camera Series.

It was the first time the US Academy of Television Arts and Sciences had given an online series such a prize.

The programme has also been nominated for further Emmys to be announced at an award ceremony on 22 September.

Netflix has previously said it had taken measures to combat piracy of the show.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-24108673
http://tweakers.net/nieuws/91282/net...erijsites.html
http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/ustv/s16...-the-show.html
http://seekingalpha.com/article/1615...all-transcript
http://variety.com/2013/digital/news...ds-1200333171/

**Anoat** · 2013-09-17 14:52

I wonder how much of Netlfix's business would be hurt if HBO Go could be purchased stand alone.

**Melena** · 2013-09-17 17:17

Not much i'd say. Outside of GoT what is on HBO that's not a movie that chances are is already on netflix/hulu

**tyven** · 2013-09-17 19:48

Originally Posted by Melena

Not much i'd say. Outside of GoT what is on HBO that's not a movie that chances are is already on netflix/hulu

Oz the wire sopranos deadwood boardwalk newsroom entourage to name a few lulz no punctuation for u not to mention shows are immediately available on hbogo. No waiting like Netflix. I don't see why mofos just don't subscribe to hbo tho cuz that shit is like 10 bucks and you get hbogo for free fucking poverty

**finitek** · 2013-09-17 22:54

Originally Posted by tyven

Oz the wire sopranos deadwood boardwalk newsroom entourage to name a few lulz no punctuation for u not to mention shows are immediately available on hbogo. No waiting like Netflix. I don't see why mofos just don't subscribe to hbo tho cuz that shit is like 10 bucks and you get hbogo for free fucking poverty

If you are fortunate enough to live in an area where you can get reduced ($10.00/month) or free HBO congrats. Otherwise HBO will run anywhere from $10.00-$23.00+ with no rhyme or reason. Its is completely dependent upon your cable provider. Yes HBO has some nice shows but you can get they ALL on disc from netflix still the cheapest option at 8.99 a month for 1/2 discs at a time.

**Anoat** · 2013-09-18 02:25

If I could get HBO (and subsequently, HBO Go) as a standalone service for $10 a month I would definitely do it, but HBO cannot be purchased by itself, it must be purchased in addition to a cable or satellite package. And yes, fucking poverty is the reason I don't have a cable or satellite service.

**Mazmaz** · 2013-09-18 03:05

Originally Posted by finitek

If you are fortunate enough to live in an area where you can get reduced ($10.00/month) or free HBO congrats. Otherwise HBO will run anywhere from $10.00-$23.00+ with no rhyme or reason. Its is completely dependent upon your cable provider. Yes HBO has some nice shows but you can get they ALL on disc from netflix still the cheapest option at 8.99 a month for 1/2 discs at a time.

Wow, fuck Netflix for not having disc option outside of U.S.

**tyven** · 2013-09-18 09:06

the best subscription service is a friendship with qalbert <3

**Brill Weave** · 2013-09-18 09:51

Been watching Revolution. Does it get any better or does it stay a retarded version of Jericho?

**Brill Weave** · 2013-09-18 09:59

Also, don't know if it was mentioned or not but second season of New Girl is up. Schmidt rises!

**Rhinox** · 2013-09-18 10:00

Its more Jeremiah than Jericho

**Brill Weave** · 2013-09-18 10:04

Originally Posted by Rhinox

Its more Jeremiah than Jericho

So is that a yes it gets better or no it remains pretty terrible?

**Rhinox** · 2013-09-18 10:07

Idk couldn't get passed the first episode.

**Brill Weave** · 2013-09-18 10:17

Originally Posted by Rhinox

Idk couldn't get passed the first episode.

Useless.

**tyven** · 2013-09-18 13:43

it looks terrible so you will prob love it brilliam

**Brill Weave** · 2013-09-18 13:48

Originally Posted by tyven

it looks terrible so you will prob love it brilliam

I watched the first few episodes. It's not good at all. The main chick is hot but that's about it.

**Moss** · 2013-09-18 14:38

is revolution the one where the power goes out but people forget guns don't run on power so they just use xbows?

**Brill Weave** · 2013-09-18 14:49

Pretty much.

**Melena** · 2013-09-18 16:20

That's assuming you are even paying for Cable TV. I dropped Comcast down to internet only when they were wanting 140 a month for TV/Internet/Phone (which we never used but was supposedly 160 without the phone) to essentially watch sports and cartoon network. Fuck that.Netflix/Hulu/Torrent only for me.

**djzombie** · 2013-09-19 07:08

Originally Posted by Melena

That's assuming you are even paying for Cable TV. I dropped Comcast down to internet only when they were wanting 140 a month for TV/Internet/Phone (which we never used but was supposedly 160 without the phone) to essentially watch sports and cartoon network. Fuck that.Netflix/Hulu/Torrent only for me.

same here, no point in having cable when theres nothing on it i want to watch 90% of the time i actually sit down to watch it. netflix is just so much better. even when we had cable most of the time we were just watching on demand shit or dvr shit, rarely if ever watched anything that we wanted to watch when it aired. just didn't make sense to keep paying 150+ a month for a service we only used 1/3 of. we just use our cell phones now instead of the house phone.

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