NBC Universal is allowing french video-on-demand (VOD)broadcaster TF1 to air episodes Heroes and other series twenty-four hours after their initial broadcast.  This may be twenty-three hours and fifty nine minutes after the pirates have already uploaded it, but it’s a great step forward for internet broadcasting.

Perhaps realizing that the RIAA approach of "take legal action against everybody on the planet" hasn’t actually caused people to abandon modern technology, NBC Universal inked the deal with TF1.  It has already been a huge success, with Heroes rapidly rising to be the broadcasters best selling product ever, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

With this success the companies are already looking at other series, including the new "Bionic Woman".  This style of delivery will best suit shows with a passionate fanbase, those with fans prepared to record and upload high-quality recordings almost instantly.  An option to buy the DVDs on the VOD site is being considered, so that the companies can benefit from this keen audience.

The pressure of internet delivery is forcing companies like NBC and Disney to agree to international deals, allowing worldwide distribution mere days after products air in the U.S. This can only be good news for consumers, many of whom are sick of the "Yeah, we’ll get to you whenever" attitude displayed towards foreign language markets in the past.

While this will not eliminate piracy it is already being seen to reduce it. Many fans pursue illegal downloads out of a simple desire to see their favorite show and the latest developments as quickly as possible, not any intention to steal. With the broadcasters finally treating foreign fans as equals, rather than criminals, they have a chance of actually surviving in a future dominated by fast information delivery.

After all, if they don’t broadcast their own product, who’ll blame others for doing so?

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Entry was posted on Sunday, October 7th, 2007 at 11:31 pm under Online video, Piracy.

Read more entries by Luke McKinney.
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