Damn you Viacom!
 

Why do multimedia conglomerates always freak out when videos get out into the open? If they aren't making them available to buy anywhere, they should shut up about it. Especially on TV shows that don't even air anymore outside syndication.

ITT we freak out about the idea of copyright holders wanting to keep control of their shit

It's unamerican is what it is.

Considering the the fact YouTube has a 10 minute limit to all videos uploaded, I don't see what the fucking deal is. The videos are shit quality and not easily downloadable.

I think it's just a case of whiny copyright holders getting their panties in a knot over nothing. YouTube is in the right simply with the limited video length policy and their site isn't any kind of DVD video replacement.

This is most unfortunate. :( They'd better be ready to pump out DVD boxed sets a bit faster, then, because there are some shows that I don't get access to with my current cable connection that I like to keep track of.

The main thing I liked Youtube for was two things:

1. I could find unreleased Pilot Episodes or old cartoon shows that WERE NOT on DVD or even VHS in some cases. (Case in point: This Entry ).

2. I could watch episodes of Animanaics, Justice League Unlimited, etc., and even though I bet the DVD versions have loads of extras, it was a nice way to see some cool superhero action or silly slapstick comedy.

Now, I can understand why they want to prevent losses to the DVD sales (And in the case of the second point I made, well those shows might be on DVD), but for shows which aren't readily available, what other choice might we have?

Besides, what if people just make dupe accounts and reupload the deleted videos? Its the whole "Swap a Stick for a Sword" situation.

Ultimatley, I think that
a. Big Media companies have a lot of things stuck up their butts.
b. They see Youtube as competition, and competition is something they are genetically predisposed towards getting rid of.

Slight off topic, Dark Nation, but that pilot that you linked which is now gone, looks alot like the art style in Avatar...

You tube is a great place to watch something rare or something really quick. Getting rid of it would just fuel people to look for free downloads or streaming ELSE where.

Either that or people pick a new site to use; I believe that Dailymotion still has most of The Simpsons (among other things) on their site. It is only a matter of time until this is noticed and "taken care of" unless Fox and Dailymotion have some sort of profit sharing agreement.

I suppose the one solution that might make everyone happier is forcing the inclusion of the original commercials in uploaded copyrighted works. At the very least, it'd give copyright holders one less thing to complain about. (It'd probably be annoying over time, though.)

I know if the commercials were included in the viewing, I wouldn't be watching it. I can't stand them, which is one of the main reasons I don't watch TV at all these days. I would prefer to download the few TV shows I do watch and then buy them on box set later. Commercials are just generally loud, obnoxious, repetitive and more often then not turn me away from the product they are trying to sell.

People need to figure out a better way to advertise that's less intrusive, and yet now they are sticking them in front of movies (most notable are Mazda and the Army, but I've seen others as well). I go to movies so that I don't have to watch commercials, and yet I'm still stuck with them. They are on some DVDs as well. How long before they start putting them in the movie proper, like watching a TV edited movie?

Sigh.

I think that it's kind of lame that Viacom had to do this; i know they are protecting some kind of infrigement laws but what about the people... not every single show has been put on DVD...