October 22, 2007
Seeking options for watching TV online (legally) from Europe
I've been trying to find options for Europeans to watch US TV series legally. I really believe viewers would be willing to pay to watch (I know I would) if it was possible.
I realize the issue are the deals made with European broadcaster, who buy the shows from the US, but as Variety pointed out, there are so many TV series on American television, that not only Americans can't watch them all, but European broadcasters will not be buying them all. So couldn't an economic model be considered enabling the rest of the world to watch US shows, on the same time wave as the US?
Here's how it (doesn't) work for us to watch legally:
-- The Networks: Offer their tv episodes the day after they air in America. Doesn't work for non US viewers though. When connecting our IP number is identified and a message pops up "sorry, not available for viewing from your location".
-- Amazon Unboxed: - What a fabulous idea, Amazon is everyone's favorite company, I used to buy all the full TV series seasons through Amazon.com, and I would receive them in Switzerland way before the boxes were sold here. Amazon Unboxed enables users to buy an entire series or just one episode for download. Not available to non US viewers though, and not available to Mac users either.
-- Veoh.com: It's my understanding Veoh.com has signed deals with the networks to broadcast their TV shows in streaming with embedded short-length commercials. Users need only to download their software to watch. The catch so far, is that the Mac version is not yet available. But this could be a good option. Without downloading their software, Veoh.com offers the first ten minutes or so of a tv show in streaming, but not full episodes.
-- Apple's iTunes: Definitely available for Macs but TV series are only available for US and UK viewers.
-- Divx: Divx software is often suggested for download on link aggregator sites, but it's my understanding this is not legal as they have been at the center of controversy over the distribution of copyright videos.
-- Joost: Is starting to offer some TV shows (found CSI: and Dexter), but for US viewers only.
-- Babelgum: If they have TV series, I can't find them.
I would appreciate feedback if anyone knows of other pay-per-view options that would work in Europe.
The networks have done such a good job in fighting piracy in the US (by offering the shows on their websites the day after they broadcast). But when will they think of us? We really do want to watch legally.
Related article on some French and British pay-per-view options being tested.
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