How much television is available for download via torrent? A ton. Every day, just about every major program from last nights US broadcast offerings is up on the net for P2P download. I have an TV torrent RSS feed delivered to my newsreader along the feeds from my favourite blogs. Here’s what became available on September 29th:
There are a few repeats (Dexter 3×1 is in there three times, I think), but you get the picture: you don’t need cable to watch tv. A cable modem will do the trick.
One thing this screenshot doesn’t give you is a feel for how much non-American programming leaks through. The torrent feed often offers Canadian and British programming and sometimes even an Australian offering of two.
Speaking of Australia, a few people have told me lately that they are enjoying The Hollowmen, a very funny behind-the-scenes political comedy that runs on ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). You don’t have to fiddle around with torrents to watch this one. ABC is streaming it on their website. Take a look here.
The Hollowmen is also available for download and also MP4 download so you can watch it on your mobile phone or iPod. And ABC offers a subscription service so you can download the latest episode with minimal effort. This is a great way to promote a show and build an audience.
Jasonia
I think Torrents are outdated already. File hosts with premium memberships (six bucks a month) and sites with links give you the latest House, Dr. Who etc. literally minutes after the show has aired – and with a fast cable connection a whole episode is downloaded in a matter of two, three minutes.
It’s brutal. Seriously.
Lex
Torrents are FAR from outdated and quality is now everything. I can “get” my HD (read 720p) 1.4G episode of say, Heroes, in a couple of minutes on my hard drive. Free.
File hosting services suck as it rarely dl at your full speed (fiber optics ftw).
I am of course not talking about public torrent website where everyone hits and runs like Mininova, but rather private website where users have to keep a UL/DL ratio.
Guess how I watch my TV.
Wrongshore
What’s your setup for this feed? I’d like a similar subscription, but it’s not obvious to me how to set it up.
admin
I’m just glad we have options.
Blogette
I’m with Lex. Torrents are pretty much what keep me alive. I think regardless of what online outlet you use to get shows, speed is the true difference maker – I have to go to a friend’s place if I want to get a really good connection.
I think I just make take a gander at “The Hollowmen”.
Jane
This is the reason TV networks have got to catch up. I’ve been buying Skins from iTunes. But guess what, they only have nine episodes on there. If they had the rest, I’d buy them. But now, the only way to get them is to download them illegally. C’mon you guys, don’t you want my money?
admin
Wrongshore:
I use NetNews Wire to manage RSS feeds. I grab the torrent feed from . Is it the RSS feed you’re having trouble with? It’s not an easy technology yet. You’ll have to look around the web for someone to explain how to use it. And then you’ll have to learn to download.
Jane-
I totally agree. People are willing to pay, the networks have to make the content available to them.
Wrongshore
Thank you. I know how to use RSS and torrents separately, but I hadn’t seen a dedicated TV feed like that. How helpful!
Do people inside the industry look askance at file sharing, or is it just the lobbies? Is it indiscreet in professional and creative circles to admit to watching television via torrent?
Rich
RSS is a pretty quick thing to learn – just get a Google Reader account, and then the little wave-like shapes on various sites will set up your feeds if you click on them once you have subscribed to Google Reader.