HBO: We Know You're Pirating 'Game Of Thrones' And That's Fine

[SecularMotion]

Yesterday Time Warner Inc. — the owner of HBO — released its quarterly earnings.

During the earnings call, Tuna Amobi of S&P U.S. Equity Research Services asked CEO Jeff Bewkes what he thought of "Game of Thrones" being the most pirated show on television.

We were tipped off about the exchange from the Game of Thrones blog White Harbour, which published an early transcription of the key quote earlier today.

Still, the whole response is fantastic. Essentially, Bewkes goes so far as to say that internet piracy is downright awesome for HBO.

http://www.businessinsider.com/time-warner-ceo-people-pirating-game-of-thrones-is-better-than-an-emmy-for-hbo-2013-8

[Marrah_G]

1. Pretty sure Game of thrones gets more downloads on Pirate Bay then any other show

[PoliticAverse]

2. And the piracy would decrease if you could buy an internet subscription to Game of Thrones

from HBO.

[ForgoTheConsequence]

5. Or if I could just subscribe to HBO Go

Without having to buy cable. If I could pay 7-8 bucks month so I could stream HBO I would. I'm not getting cable though.

[burnodo]

20. Yep

Seems HBO could make a lot of money w/o that requirement

[sweetloukillbot]

6. The only reason my wife and I had cable was to subscribe to HBO Go

We streamed everything and having instant access to that incredible programming lineup and archives was great. If there were a way to subscribe to the Internet service only I'd do it in a heartbeat. My only complaint was no Larry Sanders - I don't remember if Mr. Show was available.

[msanthrope]

9. Yep--if they made the series availble for download on Itunes and Amazon, I suspect

piracy would drop tremendously.

[Ed Suspicious]

10. It is, well, I know previous seasons are.

[msanthrope]

13. I know--but not the Third Season. I want the Red Wedding. nt

[tammywammy]

11. Seasons 1 & 2 are on Amazon streaming.

That's how I'm watching it.

[msanthrope]

12. Me, too, but the Third Season won't be released until the 4th nearly premieres. nt

[tammywammy]

15. Such is life...

I'm a strong believer in intellectual property rights, I don't illegally download music/tv/movies. I'd totally be down for a streaming service from HBO.

Plus I'm a grad student and fulltime worker. I can only enjoy this stuff while on break. So, I'm knocking out the two seasons during my three week summer break. I can't wait for Breaking Bad to start Sunday.

[msanthrope]

16. Me, too, which is why I do not pirate, also. Homeland Season 2 is being released next month....

I've been waiting almost a year!

[TeamPooka]

3. interesting

[millennialmax]

4. So I won't receive another DMCA letter from HBO for downloading their shows? eom

[Skittles]

7. I thought all you needed was coffee

[Warren DeMontague]

8. *

[Vashta Nerada]

14. Good for HBO.

It's too bad cable channels don't make apps where you can pay a certain fee per month to watch its programming. AFAIK, they have apps, but you have to have a cable subscription.

[Logical]

17. Great, justification for the DU members who steal music and movies and software. n-t

[exboyfil]

18. It seems HBO's business model should include

early access to this show without purchasing HBO. I won't have HBO on in my house, but I would be willing to pay the current streaming rate for Seasons I and II for Season III. As it stands I will wait for Season III to be available legally somewhere (either as DVD or through streaming).

I guess immediate access to legal Game of Thrones is a tipping point for a purchasing decision for HBO for many. I don't care for most of their shows, and, while the sex is somewhat true to Martin's books, I would prefer it not be so in my face (ie I like a warning when its coming and not starting the scene with it for example).

[bhikkhu]

19. I'm glad they've come out and said it

...the fact is, a large amount of people can't afford cable, and Game of Thrones is a very well-made show.

If you look at things like that which become parts of our culture and long-term moneymakers, its broad availability that helps establish them (much more than exclusivity). In this case, "piracy" is what allows the lower classes a small measure of equal access and participation in the wider culture.

[Egalitarian Thug]

21. HBO just might be bright enough to survive the change in communications after all.

Trying to fight the tide is a fool's errand, but there is no bigger fool than Big Business.

Smart people figure out ways to leverage change.