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Stealing Entertainment, Revisited

by Smithee on July 28, 2009

in Consumer

A week ago I wrote a post called “Is it Ever Okay to Steal Entertainment?”, which produced great comments from our readers, many of whom were clearly incensed that I would ever try to rationalize stealing from content creators. I’ve been thinking about the criticism and understanding that was added to the original article. I wanted to see if I could ever become the person that never even accidentally steals entertainment.

I got the impression from your comments, and correct me if I’m wrong, but a lot of people feel that if I’m enjoying any kind of entertainment, then I should have paid for it first.

The problem, I’ve concluded, is that we all steal. All of us. Not always on purpose, but it happens. Some examples:

The Problem with Having Friends

Your friends want you to enjoy the things they enjoy. I really enjoy the band “Cake”, and I never would’ve been exposed to them if someone hadn’t burned me a copy of “Fashion Nugget” back in 2001. Now, over eight years after that, I still haven’t paid for that album, but I enjoy at least one of those songs at least once a month. I’m willing to admit right here that I “stole” that album. And as a direct result, I paid for three other albums of theirs. So the band “Cake” was down one, then up three. “Cake” profits.

This is true of most of the bands that my friends share with me. Friends know best what you’re likely to enjoy.

The DVR Problem

I don’t think there’s any Cable/Satellite/FiOS TV provider that doesn’t offer a DVR box for their customers. Unless you’re watching a Superbowl-type event, or keeping tabs on a weather event or election, you’re probably skipping commercials. That’s stealing: it breaks the model of “we’ll make shows, you pay us, and we’ll insert ads for your product, and there’s an infinitesimal chance our viewers will buy your product over someone else’s”.

If you have a DVR, and you’re decidedly not skipping commercials out of a noble effort to continue this outdated model, then my hat’s off to you, and also, I don’t believe it.

Not to mention the fact that most of the time, the volume of commercials during the break is set so loud that I feel I’m being screamed at.

The “Album Only” Problem

The list of albums that I can listen to all the way through is about half a page long, double-spaced. Nearly every album contains filler material: stuff that the artists know most people won’t like. For about thirty years, record companies sold single songs, with B-sides, and they did very well. The popularity of the CD somehow brought about a trend for people to buy whole albums.

I bought plenty of albums on CD, and have been disappointed with plenty of songs. That’s not an accident, that’s the record company stealing from me. I’m not saying “two wrongs make a right”. I’m just pointing it out. Apple and the record companies know that people much prefer buying single songs, and not wasting money, so they’re working on a new add-on for people who buy whole albums. We’ll see how that turns out, but at present, I predict it will be a miserable failure.

Entertainment in the 21st Century

I much prefer the Creative Commons approach to releasing entertainment. Since Day One, Jonathan Coulton has made it possible and easy to enjoy his music for free. Just as importantly, he’s made it possible and easy to pay him for the songs you like. His music makes me so happy that I’ve paid for the MP3s, as well as a collector’s set of “Thing a Week” CDs, a DVD, and tickets for three concerts.

I know the system works for him, too, since he recently moved into a bigger house with his wife and children.

A Larger View

I think we’re in between payment models at the moment. I’m seeing a 21st century where people only pay for the things they enjoy. My wife and I are already working on a computer-based system, using content from places like Hulu (which includes ads that you can’t skip, but only a couple minutes’ worth), and I’m looking forward to reporting on it, if I can get the bugs all worked out.

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Digital Television Transition Approaching

by Flexo on May 20, 2009

in Consumer

June 12, 2009 is the final day that full-power television stations will broadcast in an analog over-the-air signal. The date was originally set for February 17, but due to broadcasters who needed more time and congressmen who felt the public needed more time to understand the transition, the deadline was extended until next month.

This also has provided companies more time to create confusion in an effort to sell products and services.

Cable companies like Cablevision use the digital transition to try to convince holdouts still using antennas that the best way to avoid a problem is simply to sign up for a yearly contract, with a special “low-cost program.” They might be right. If you have cable or satellite service, you will be immune to the digital transition. Virtually all cable companies serve digital signals into homes now. But the low-cost program offered might provide you with fewer channels than you have now as a customer of free, over-the-air broadcast television.

Retailers use the digital transition as an excuse to convince consumers that it’s time to upgrade to a high-definition television. I routinely talk to people who are convinced that they need to buy a high-definition television in order to watch any television after the transition date. This was never true. A digital television is not the same as a high-definition television broadcast. You can watch digital television on your older cathode ray tube (CRT) television. You do not need to buy a new television, even if your old box has only an analog tuner.

At the very minimum, you will need to buy a digital converter box if your television has only an analog tuner. There are coupons available, two per family if you apply for the coupon before July 31, to help defray the cost of two converter boxes. If you buy a converter box, keep this in mind: Even after the digital transition deadline, some low-powered stations may continue broadcasting in analog only. If you want to receive these stations after the transition, you must buy a converter box which offers a feature called “pass-through,” which allows analog and digital signals to be sent to your television.

If you use antennas to receive analog television now, the same antennas will receive digital television. Digital signals are weaker, though, so you may find in order to receive digital reception that is comparable to your old analog reception, you’ll need an outdoor antenna.

There is more information from the FCC and the Department of Commerce runs the coupon program.

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Comcast Bills for Two Months of Service on First Bill

by Flexo on March 10, 2008

in Consumer

The author of the Debt Sucks blog explains his recent predicament with Comcast. When I received my first bill from Comcast many years ago, I faced the same situation. My first bill was much higher — almost twice as much — as the monthly rate I originally agreed to. Here’s what Debt Sucks has to say:

The other day, I received my first bill from Comcast, and immediately became infuriated when I opened it up. You would, too, if you were expecting a bill in the 30s or 40s and find it’s $83.31! I turn it over and there, at the top, is listed a previous balance of $57.46. How the heck can I have a previous balance!?… [The customer service representative] finally explained to me that I was being charged for two months of service — the one I already used, and the one following.

This policy — billing for future service each month, except for the first bill which includes a catch-up charge — is never explained when you initially sign up.

Frank Eliason, from the “Comcast Executive Offices,” frequently responds to postings on blogs and forums across the internet criticizing or thanking Comcast. He showed up at the Debt Sucks blog to leave a comment:

We are in the process of redesigning our statement to better explained the first month cost. We could have also done a better job of explaining this during our initial interaction.

Comcast has recently purchased my cable television and internet provider, Patriot Media. Recently, I received a letter to warn me that I should expect to see the branding switch over to Comcast soon. The letter also mentioned that billing dates will be adjusted. If they are adjusted into the future, then I would expect a larger bill that my monthly charge. If my billing date changes from the 13th to the 20th, my next bill would include service for March 13 through April 20 rather than March 13 through April 12.

This was not explained in the letter, it is the assumption I am making. I can also assume, if the cycle date is pushed later, that other people will see a higher bill this month or next month and they will not be happy.

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