Depending on the success of this thread it may span out into different topics as the debate subsides. Choose a side as you see fit -- obviously either for or against, and please argue with intelligence and not with childish insults.

"Is downloading TV shows free from the internet ethical?"

I am for, and that is I believe it is ethical to download TV episodes for free from the internet, for reasons I will now outline.

In Australia, I believe only recently within the past few months the law against the recording of free to air televsion has been lifted, hence the sudden influx of DVD/HDD recorders on the market. So in its fundamental form, according to the government it would also then be ethical and legal to download the same episodes from the internet.

Furthermore, currently many popular shows such as Prison Break are available to U.S. audiences to watch free of charge online. Therefore if the networks encourage viewers to watch their show for free, then surely achieveing the same result through a different medium should not be an issue?

Remember, don't get hot-headed over responses and don't get personal. Only mature intelligent debate.

I'm probably wrong, but I don't see how it's different from us recording a program from free-to-air TV as it is downloading it. I mean it's free either way. Yes there are no ads in the downloaded versions, but so what?
Personally I don't download episodes or movies as I prefer to buy the actual DVDs, but yeah, I don't think its wrong to get them from the net.

The main issue in downloading TV shows from the internet is the Australian TV networks (Ten, Seven, Nine) suffer, because you can get the episodes before they premiere on Australian TV. Yeah it's free either way, but if everyone were to download then what would become of the TV networks, how could they compete? Though broadband penetration is probably not to the extent that it significantly effects local TV network ratings anyway.

I do it pretty much all the time, I cant wait for some shows to air in Australia its just too long to wait.

I would say that it is at that point, take Lost for example, it's ratings are way down on where it started. Sure some people may have given up on it, but I think a large proportion is people not being able to wait 6 months for Seven to show it.

I don't see a problem with it, and I do it with at least 5 different shows currently. If they were shown here at the same time as in the US, like the OC and Jericho, then I wouldn't bother, it's the 6 month wait that compells me to do it.

I also get the shows on DVD as soon as they are released here anyway.

Well I've always believed in not downloading materials, although this has sort of changed, especially with the lack of announcements of new TV shows and the constant changing that the networks do.

Ethically, I'm not too sure, apart from the advertisers pay for a television show that a stations puts on, no matter how many people watch that show, with statistics being only based on a small percentage of viewers.

Also the online streaming of episodes is a pretty nice feature, one I will continue to use, and agree that the laws that are being implemented / have been implemented certainly make a lot of gray areas to be considered.

Well there you are, perhaps it's already effecting the networks, but maybe the ratings fell because as you said people gave up on it. I never actually bothered with Lost, didnt it just get more stupid as it went on or something?

Nah, I think it was just the viewers that couldn't follow it that were stupid.

I truely believe the drop in viewers is because of people d/l them, there are a heap of people on Hyper that get it. I would assume that most people that watch it and have BB would d/l it too.

The solution, put it on here when it's on in America.

Yup, i definately think now (specially with Season 3) that there are more people downloading Lost then waiting til February over at Hyper.
Here's some relevant figures (regarding dling of TV eps)

The Lost thread (Aus airings, Season 1 & 2 so far) 745 posts
Season 2 Spoiler Thread (US Airings) 532 Posts
Season 3 Spoiler Thread (US Airings - 6 Episodes in) 259 posts

Don't toss that spam shit at me either, keke?

Lost is the only show i bother downloading. probably would be downloading Prison break if the season 1 finale didn't leave such a bad taste in my mouth, but i'm waiting til february. That said, i've got both Seasons 1 & 2 of Lost on DVD, so i don't keep shows on my HDD.

Also, <3 Ten on the move with OC & Jericho (even though i don't like those shows) hopefully 7 will pull a similar scheme next year, thus the number of downloaders would dramatically reduce.

I never download tv episodes (except for anime fansubs) since I'm more than happy to watch tv in the loungeroom instead. Even if they do put occaisonal shows like Family Guy at the stupidest times...I'm always being capped and if I started downloading tv shows on top of everything else, I'd barely ever get to use broadband speeds. Think I've been capped for about...2 weeks now? :unsure:

I don't see a major problem with it in general and if people want to continue what they're doing, then hey, go ahead :) I won't dob anyone in..

*makes a few FBI calls*

*borgster looks outside his window and notices a parked van saying 'Flowers By Irene' on the side*

:lol:

Hey, I don't download TV Shows! :unsure:

Yeah, I'm the same Sk, I get the DVDs as soon as they are out and get rid of them on the PC.

Also, I have a really low BB limit (only 5gb), after which the speed is cut back. It only takes about 7 days to hit the limit each month too, so the later eps take around 12 hours to d/l. :( Unless I get the 90mb versions, which are a lot quicker.

The ones we get are Lost, Supernatural, Kyle XY, Heroes, Battlestar Galactica, The 4400, and we're going to see what Eureka is like.

Also, my good pc has a lounge behind it, it's pretty much a second loungeroom, so that ain't a problem. :D

Who said anything about tv shows?....DRUG DEALER!! :P

What are you talking about? This is a legitmate businessmens social club :P

Regarding downloading TV shows and stuff, as I only have a 12GB limit, I practically cant download them anyway, without getting capped.

I don't download TV shows, just because I'm too lazy. I download a crapload of music, though - if Metallica ever found me, Lars would fly into a giant bitchfest just like the Napster incident.

It's not ethical by any means but I'd still do it.

I only download music that is impossibley hard to find otherwise, like alot of video game music.

finding things like the jet force gemini soundtrack takes effort that i could rather just be playing games instead