\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0by Cate Gray, Associate Manuscripts Editor<\/p>\n
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\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 On January 5, 2014, PBS premiered season four of critically acclaimed period drama Downton Abbey to record-breaking ratings in the United States.[1]<\/a>\u00a0 The problem for diehard fans truly committed to knowing the trials and tribulations of the Crawley family?\u00a0 In the United Kingdom, the season four finale<\/i> already aired on December 25, 2013.[2]<\/a>\u00a0 Fans of BBC One\u2019s Sherlock can sympathize; season three premiered nearly a month later here in the US than in the UK.[3]<\/a><\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 So, devoted US fans, why not utilize one of the many websites devoted to allowing viewers to stream these shows and stay up to date with our neighbors across the pond?\u00a0 Simply put, it\u2019s illegal.\u00a0 In an effort to combat copyright infringement online, Congress defined all such websites as \u201cdedicated to infringing activities\u201d and therefore in violation of title 17 of the United States Code.[4]<\/a>\u00a0 But should it be?\u00a0<\/p>\n PBS, the Public Broadcasting Service, is available to any viewer with a digital antenna, so watching programming on the network doesn\u2019t require a paid cable or satellite subscription.\u00a0 The network itself is funded largely through private donations.[5]<\/a>\u00a0 Therefore, because the public does not pay for the ability to watch the channel, there is a question as to whether there is actual harm done to PBS.\u00a0 Does streaming content from the United Kingdom that is not yet available to those of us in the United States truly harm PBS?<\/p>\n The more important question, however, is when will the law, and technology, catch up to an increasingly global society?\u00a0\u00a0 Television shows no longer have fans based solely in one country, and for those of us behind in broadcasts due to our geographic location, the Internet is a minefield of countless spoilers for episodes yet to air on our local networks.\u00a0 The delay in airing shows in other counties with large fan bases creates a market for online streaming, and all but encourages fans to engage in a technically illegal activity in order to stay up to date with viewers in other locales.\u00a0 Such a result places both the U.S. law and television networks in a difficult situation, and only time will tell whether they take steps to decrease the time between premiers in different regions, thereby reducing the need for online streaming.<\/p>\n [1]<\/a> \u2018Downton Abbey\u2019 Season 4 Premiere Breaks PBS Ratings Record<\/i>, Huffington Post (Jan. 6, 2014, 6:19 PM), http:\/\/www.huffingtonpost.com\/2014\/01\/06\/downton-abbey-premiere-ratings_n_4551161.html.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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