Post by LadyTass2001 on Feb 21, 2005 16:49:42 GMT -5
found this on the net thought you might want to know.
Author: Michael Hinman
Date: 12-14-2004
Source: SyFy Portal
The battle between the Colonials and the Cylons might have been epic in the "Battlestar Galactica" miniseries last year, but the new battle between the series' producers and American fans might trump it.
Reports have surfaced that USA Cable Entertainment, a division of NBC Universal, is contacting Internet service providers, asking them to remove people who are downloading episodes of the "Battlestar Galactica" series.
While online piracy has existed almost as long as the Internet itself -- including popular television shows -- "Battlestar Galactica" has an interesting twist, since the episode downloads are being conducted mostly by Americans instead of fans from other countries.
Earlier this year, when Sci-Fi Channel agreed to give the "Battlestar Galactica" series the greenlight, NBC Universal struck a deal with Sky One -- a British satellite network provider -- to share some of the costs of the expensive series. As part of that agreement, Sky One earned the right to air the episodes in the United Kingdom ahead of their airing in the United States and Canada. This is a reversal of how American television shows normally are broadcast, with the first airings taking place in the United States, and subsequent airings happening at a later date overseas. So far, nine episodes of the 13-episode first season have aired on Sky One, with the American and Canadian premieres set for mid-January.
A copy of the letter recently was posted on the Internet. Dated Dec. 1, the letter is signed by Sarah Bergman, a "compliance manager" from BayTSP Inc., in Los Gatos, Calif., and is being directed to Internet service providers, not individual users.
"It has come to our attention that [removed] is the service provider for the IP address listed below, from which unauthorized copying and distribution (downloading, uploading, file serving, file 'swapping' or other similar activities) of USA Cable Entertainment LLC motion picture(s) and television properties listed below is taking place," the letter states. "We believe that the Internet access of the user engaging in this infringement is provided by (removed) or a downstream service provider who purchases this connectivity from (removed)."
The letter demands the ISP to remove or disable access to the area that the downloads are occurring, and to implement a policy that "provides for termination of subscribers who are repeat infringers." They cite American copyright laws as the basis for their demands.
"Battlestar Galactica" executive producers Ronald D. Moore and David Eick recently posted an open letter to American fans on the Sci-Fi Channel message boards, asking them to not download episodes.
"It's come to our attention that many of you out there are so eager to see our show that you've decided to jump the line and get the episodes via the Internet ahead of everyone patiently waiting in the U.S. and Canada for the show to premiere in January," the two producers said in a statement posted Nov. 17. "First of all, we're flattered and happy that you're so excited to see the new season of 'Battlestar Galactica' and appreciate the support. However, beyond the fact that getting episodes over the Internet is illegal, it's also potentially very damaging to the show itself. You see, we need ratings, which means we need eyeballs in front of TV screens that advertisers can measure."
Author: Michael Hinman
Date: 12-14-2004
Source: SyFy Portal
The battle between the Colonials and the Cylons might have been epic in the "Battlestar Galactica" miniseries last year, but the new battle between the series' producers and American fans might trump it.
Reports have surfaced that USA Cable Entertainment, a division of NBC Universal, is contacting Internet service providers, asking them to remove people who are downloading episodes of the "Battlestar Galactica" series.
While online piracy has existed almost as long as the Internet itself -- including popular television shows -- "Battlestar Galactica" has an interesting twist, since the episode downloads are being conducted mostly by Americans instead of fans from other countries.
Earlier this year, when Sci-Fi Channel agreed to give the "Battlestar Galactica" series the greenlight, NBC Universal struck a deal with Sky One -- a British satellite network provider -- to share some of the costs of the expensive series. As part of that agreement, Sky One earned the right to air the episodes in the United Kingdom ahead of their airing in the United States and Canada. This is a reversal of how American television shows normally are broadcast, with the first airings taking place in the United States, and subsequent airings happening at a later date overseas. So far, nine episodes of the 13-episode first season have aired on Sky One, with the American and Canadian premieres set for mid-January.
A copy of the letter recently was posted on the Internet. Dated Dec. 1, the letter is signed by Sarah Bergman, a "compliance manager" from BayTSP Inc., in Los Gatos, Calif., and is being directed to Internet service providers, not individual users.
"It has come to our attention that [removed] is the service provider for the IP address listed below, from which unauthorized copying and distribution (downloading, uploading, file serving, file 'swapping' or other similar activities) of USA Cable Entertainment LLC motion picture(s) and television properties listed below is taking place," the letter states. "We believe that the Internet access of the user engaging in this infringement is provided by (removed) or a downstream service provider who purchases this connectivity from (removed)."
The letter demands the ISP to remove or disable access to the area that the downloads are occurring, and to implement a policy that "provides for termination of subscribers who are repeat infringers." They cite American copyright laws as the basis for their demands.
"Battlestar Galactica" executive producers Ronald D. Moore and David Eick recently posted an open letter to American fans on the Sci-Fi Channel message boards, asking them to not download episodes.
"It's come to our attention that many of you out there are so eager to see our show that you've decided to jump the line and get the episodes via the Internet ahead of everyone patiently waiting in the U.S. and Canada for the show to premiere in January," the two producers said in a statement posted Nov. 17. "First of all, we're flattered and happy that you're so excited to see the new season of 'Battlestar Galactica' and appreciate the support. However, beyond the fact that getting episodes over the Internet is illegal, it's also potentially very damaging to the show itself. You see, we need ratings, which means we need eyeballs in front of TV screens that advertisers can measure."
