Downloading TV Shows - A Dilemma

Heres a topic that should hopefully bring a few readers out of the wood work and start commenting on what I believe to be perhaps the most delicate issue relating to television in our age of technology - just how legal is downloading television shows?

We all know downloading music and movies over the internet is illegal - but what about TV shows? Recording TV shows as they are broadcast over the airways has only just recently become legal - and with this came the wave of DVD and HDD recorders onto the market. However what if we skip the middle man - what if we download TV shows?



Technically speaking, the only reason why shows can be streamed at no cost to our television sets is due to the ads that pay for them. But then if we change the channel during ads is this illegal? Shows like Prison Break even offer full episodes to be viewed online for free on their website so this really is quite a vast grey area of right and wrong.

Case in point, lets take Heroes. If you were to download an episode of Heroes, become intrigued with the plot and visit the Heroes website to read the online comics, character profiles and what ever else which may take your fancy, are you not exposed to advertising which is revenue in the pockets of the creators regardless of the medium?

Perhaps the only difference between downloading shows and watching them on television is choice - the choice of when and how many times to watch a given episode. However with so many television recording devices isn't this redundant?

Seemingly, the only major driving force behind its illegality are DVD box sets. Theoretically the studios would lose revenue as viewers would not require to purchase a series as they would already have it stored on their computers. However box sets offer glorious high definition as well as exclusive bonus features - something not available through online download, which would therefore provide an incentive to purchase the box set regardless.

In my opinion, TV shows should be offered for free online download in synchronous with their television airing. Who cares if we are bombarded by ads on the download page - it is no different to normal television - actually I lie, online advertising can be customised to best appeal to the visitor - more money in the studios pockets, and convenience with reward for the audience.

So what do you think, is it legal? At the end of the day, if you are interested in the show and you visit the website you are exposed to the same material you would see if you were sitting at home in front of the television.