[pdonis]

In this case, piracy provides an indicator of unfulfilled demand

Only if the content providers actually treat it as an indicator of unfilled demand. They're not; they're treating it as an indicator of criminal behavior.

If piracy is an indicator of unfilled demand, the correct response is to fill the demand by changing your method of distribution. It's not to sue people and try to buy ever more draconian government enforcement.

[gdubs]

False. Media companies do analyze peer-to-peer networks as part of their viewer analytics. See, for example, "Big Champagne."

[pdonis]

How does that contradict what I said? I wasn't talking about whether or not the companies have the data; of course they do. I was talking about what they do with the data.

[gdubs]

I don't think their outward actions are a reliable indicator of how they're using these data internally. I _do_ think that these analytics can play a big role in which shows get cancelled.

(edited further for clarity.)

[pdonis]

I _do_ think that these analytics can play a big role in which shows get cancelled.

So what? How does that fix the distribution problem that motivates people to pirate? And how does it affect the propensity of media companies to sue people who pirate, instead of fixing their broken distribution system?

[gdubs]

The 'so what' is that Marco is telling people to boycott cable companies by not watching their shows, which would most directly hurt the writers, artists, directors, etc, who have worked really hard on their shows.

[pdonis]

I don't see how pirating the shows, as opposed to not watching them, is any better for the writers, artists, directors, etc. all things considered. Yes, in the short term, a show might not get cancelled if pirated demand is taken into account. But the global effect is that more and more people hate the media companies because they prosecute ordinary people that just want to watch shows and movies, instead of fixing their broken distribution system.

Sooner or later that is going to catch up with those companies, and when it does, all the writers, artists, directors, etc. who have tied their fates to the fates of the media companies will go down with them. If anything, pirating, as opposed to just not watching, postpones the pain of that happening, which will make it even worse when it finally does.