Can it be true? A commercial network actually embracing the internet? For real?
Apparently it is, with Channel 9 letting viewers not only download free episodes of the second series to last year’s hit show Underbelly, but also letting viewers distribute it online through file sharing portals like Bittorrent. If you don’t believe me, check out the text from NineMSN’s CatchUp TV section:
You can also copy and share each episode or even distribute the files via file-sharing applications, such as Bit Torrent. Each file is available from the date the episode was broadcast on TV and remains active until the end of the series.
But don’t confuse this approach from Channel 9 as a lovey-dovey open to everyone decision – to watch the show online for free you’ll need to download their Hiro video player from NineMSN, and each episode is only available from when it airs until the end of the season. At this stage we’re unsure as to whether they’ll stop letting you download the show at the end of the season, or if the files are programmed to stop playing back, but I guess we’ll all find that out soon enough. And fans outside Australia – you’ll need to look elsewhere – this is only available to people in Australia.
Alternatively, of course, the show is also available to download on iTunes for the usual $2.99 an episode, or $32.99 for the full season.
This is a pretty big change from last year’s story where the show was being pirated left right and centre. Here’s hoping more TV shows head online…
StevoTheDevo
February 11, 2009 at 10:20 AM
Link please?
Report PermalinkStevoTheDevo
February 11, 2009 at 10:23 AM
This is where it is.
http://video.ninemsn.com.au/catchuptv/section.aspx?sectionid=2868§ionname=catchuptv&subsectionid=149448&subsectionname=underbelly2
I didn’t know Channel Nine had a Catchup service..
Report PermalinkGuess I’ve never had any need to watch any of their other crap.
Lynnie
January 13, 2012 at 4:53 AM
Anyone got a working link to this. Also anyone got season 1and 2 please.
Report PermalinkChris Lowery
February 11, 2009 at 10:40 AM
I feel pretty ripped off for buying an episode I missed on TV on iTunes now. Even at the time I thought “Man, 3 dollars is pretty expensive for an episode I’m only going to watch once, but what choice do I have?”. Channel 9 needs an iView service.
Report PermalinkHirsty
February 11, 2009 at 11:51 AM
Wha tha fa? Ooh you gotta install the HIRO player to view it.
Report PermalinkRiiiiiiiiight.
Vangalorr
February 11, 2009 at 12:41 PM
I tried to use their service yesterday but the download crapped out part way through and wouldn’t resume. In the end I just went and found a torrent.
Basically a case of good idea, bad execution.
Report PermalinkBob
February 11, 2009 at 3:12 PM
to the dooshbag who paid for the episode on itunes.. you do realise everything is free on the internet if u know where to find it.. just be thankful that your lazy a$$ has a nice convienient place to get it for a mere $3.
Report PermalinkDirectLinkIsTheBest
February 11, 2009 at 9:32 PM
http://download.ninemsn.com.au/hiro/underbelly_s2_ep1.avi
There is a direct link to the download
Report PermalinkMadman
May 13, 2009 at 8:48 AM
Poor form Channel 9. I spent 4 hours & half of my monthly download limit getting the series only to find that its licence expired on Monday through the hiro player & wont play. Nowhere did they let us know this, just that you couldnt download it anymore after this date.
Report PermalinkPlease also remember that they are not adhering to the Aust laws for info collection & the Hiro player trawls your computer for installed files & send the info to “Israel” of all places. Their laws are much more lax.
Check out the licence fine print. I definitely wont use it again. Try to do the right thing & they screw you. Better off with a torrent & no scam by NineMSN