Game of Thrones is Most Pirated TV Show For Second Year

[StewShearerOld]

Game of Thrones is Most Pirated TV Show For Second Year

The season 3 finale of Game of Thrones has been downloaded more than 5.9 million times.

Last year it was determined that among the countless TV shows being passed around illegally on the internet, HBO's Game of Thrones was easily TorrentFreak that these numbers have only expanded in the year following and that, once again, Game of Thrones is the reigning king of illegally downloaded televised media.

Point in case, the season 3 finale was downloaded a whopping 5.9 million times with the season's totals handily beating competitors like Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead. While these results aren't shocking given the show's simultaneous popularity and arguable inaccessibility, its creators at HBO have been surprisingly unconcerned. Back in August, HBO CEO Jeff Hawkes said that this kind of piracy "leads to more paying [subscriptions]" and that Game of Thrones being the world's most pirated show is "better than an Emmy."

While we're not necessarily going to agree with that stance or say we think it's okay to illegally view a show like this, it's not to understand why so many might go that route. Game of Thrones often isn't an easy show to watch. Viewing it legally on television flat out requires a pricey subscription to HBO. Beyond that your only other options are HBO Go, which again requires a subscription, and waiting for the next set of DVDs to come out. Keep in mind that season three ended this past June and won't be coming out for retail purchase <a href=http://www.idigitaltimes.com/articles/21262/20131224/game-thrones-season-3-dvd-release-date.htm>until February 2014. Again, we're not saying that piracy is right, but you could definitely argue that HBO hasn't made legal viewing too easy.

Source: TorrentFreak


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[The_R3d_Fury]

What about an iTunes season pass? You get the episodes pretty soon after they air, I'm pretty sure. That's how my family watched The Walking Dead and that's how I used to watch Game of Thrones before I stopped.

 

[GAunderrated]

As long as HBO tries to force its ancient draconian subscription model, those numbers will only increase.

 

[iseko]

It's a pretty impressive feat. It is a clear indication towards the popularity of the show. If I ask around it is generally accepted to be the best show of the moment. But as has been pointed out: a (large) part of these downloads is thanks to the difficulty of watching the show legally. Still: impressive.

Disclaimer: I don't approve of illegal downloading (just to be sure )

 

[Drummodino]

I'd like to know how many downloads come from non-US markets. I'm pretty sure iTunes is the only way to view the show outside of the States and if you don't want to use that service, well you're flat out of luck. There's a reason piracy is so rampant in countries like Australia, especially when you consider we don't even have Netflix, Hulu etc.

 

[vdrandom]

It's funny how Escapist is scared to death of commenting on piracy.

I can't use Netflix or HBO in my region, and all local services force translation.

 

[jackpipsam]

I'm one of those good boys who wait until the blu-ray.
That said it is on Itunes if really wanted it now.

Although if it was on Xbox Video in Australia then I would have probably gotten in that way, I buy Walking Dead now though Xbox Video.

There's a reason piracy is so rampant in countries like Australia, especially when you consider we don't even have Netflix, Hulu etc.

We have Quickflix here in Australia which pretty much does the same thing, although like nobody uses it.

 

[CardinalPiggles]

If it was on my video streaming service (Lovefilm) then I'd watch it in a heartbeat. As it stands I can't (I think) and will not pay for another TV subscription just for one program, and I refuse to buy anything from iTunes.

I'm happy to wait and buy the DVD's season by season down the road, but I can definitely understand why people wouldn't and just pirate it.

I also think that them making it more accessible at this point would only hurt their subscriptions. Millions of people have become so used to not paying for it, why would they now?

 

[Elfgore]

It's understandable. HBO cost way to much and is rarely worth it. Same goes for Starz. I think the package for HBO is 25-30 dollars for my provider for about five stations.

 

[Aris Khandr]

What about an iTunes season pass? You get the episodes pretty soon after they air, I'm pretty sure. That's how my family watched The Walking Dead and that's how I used to watch Game of Thrones before I stopped.

Nope. HBO doesn't sell Game of Thrones on any service until February of the year after the season is over. Season 2 got released to iTunes, Amazon, and the like on the same day as the DVDs were released, back in February of this year. As the OP said, season 3 won't be available for anyone until February of 2014, right in time for season 4 to start in March. So if you're like me, someone who doesn't own a television set at all, much less has a cable subscription, and certainly doesn't have any premium channels on top of her nonexistent cable subscription, you start to understand why piracy is so appealing for that show.

I've been letting my mother use my Amazon account to watch the first two seasons, and she's asking me every week why I don't have season three yet. I would happily pay HBO the full cost of the season up front if they'd release the episodes a few days after they aired on TV to iTunes or Amazon, but it seems they'd rather hold out hope that Game of Thrones is good enough to make me go out and buy a television, and get cable as well as their channel just to watch it. Spoiler: It isn't. I won't pirate it, but this process certainly isn't earning HBO any points with me.

 

[Entitled]

I have no problem with copyright, as long as copyright holders and their apologists don't try to pretend that it's some sort of moral right, but admit that it's just a government-granted monopoly.

The reason why copyright exists is to promote artistic output. If here we have a case where IGNORING copyright increases the payment gained by creative work, PLUS it means more value to be accessed by the public, that kind of begs the question why the hell we need to extend copyright to that in the first place.

 

[el_kabong]

Well, that's what they get for not offering reasonable avenues of purchase through digital means...like every other show on TV. I don't own cable, so the shows I watch are through digital subscriptions. I don't personally pirate stuff, but I can see how making non-HBO/non-cable-having audiences wait for the DVD release date just because you want to hold onto an archaic, proprietary streaming process would make some people impatient.

If they actually allowed me to pay for HBOGo without the necessity to have a cable bill, I'd be all for that. Last I checked, though, it's only available through a confirmed cable provider.

 

[omega 616]

In a lot of cases I don't understand tv piracy.

I pay a tv license to watch tv but I can't watch something 'cos it isn't shown in my country I have to what? I can understand if it's a subscription package thing though.

Lets take a show I love, misfits. Unless I buy the dvds, I can watch it on 4OD or I can pirate it, what is the difference? One is illegal and the other isn't 'cos on the legal one I am forced to watch ads?

 

[kailus13]

In a lot of cases I don't understand tv piracy.

I pay a tv license to watch tv but I can't watch something 'cos it isn't shown in my country I have to what? I can understand if it's a subscription package thing though.

Lets take a show I love, misfits. Unless I buy the dvds, I can watch it on 4OD or I can pirate it, what is the difference? One is illegal and the other isn't 'cos on the legal one I am forced to watch ads?

The ads are irrelevent. It's simply that channel 4 is allowed to show you the programs they have, and the places you can pirate it from don't. The advertisments are just there to earn them money.

 

[UsefulPlayer 1]

I watch Game of Thrones off my girlfriend's family's subscription on HBOgo.

I feel like I'm pirating considering how the video game industry makes me feel these days. chills.

By the way, I think her dad bullies the Comcast customer service into giving them HBO and other channels. Just threaten to end your subscription.

 

[008Zulu_v1legacy]

I think in all those cases, Australia was the biggest offender. Most people can't afford the $80AU a month for the monopolistic pay t.v service nor have the Internet speeds/data capable of streaming at any watchable quality. So for many, the only option is piracy.

Since our ideal national broadband scheme is dead (thanks Abbot, ya dick), maybe we can get Google to install theirs here now?

 

[AstaresPanda]

Well TV in general in my area is piss poor. Not only would i have to pay for a monthly sub but a yearly LICENCE to watch TV. Netflix UK is pathetic and so is LoveFilm. For example on netflix the tv show WEEDS has 8 seasons and ended in 2013. Yet Netflix somthing im paying for only has the first 3. They have StarTrek next generation, but no movies or other starTrek shows. Walking Dead and Game of Thrones both very popular and yet both are not on NetFlix. How about they stop being greedy assholes and make it worth paying a monthly fee for......

I mean there is a fucking tv show about people watching fucking tv, how low are we that watching other people watch tv is a fucking real show. Plus i gotta watch weeks if not months most of the time. So why bother, books and gaming are fine for me. Dvd/Blu-Ray. no bullshit adverts, watch when the fuck i want.

 

[jackpipsam]

Since our ideal national broadband scheme is dead (thanks Abbot, ya dick), maybe we can get Google to install theirs here now?

While we all have issues with Abbott, I was skeptical that the original plan was ever going to fully work.
The whole NBN was in tatters by the time Liberals got voted in.