Earlier this fall, we wrote about a huge problem facing the industry that social TV is bringing to light. In “Have you already watched Downton Abby Season three?“, we discussed how delaying launches of seasons is too hard on fans who can too easily see spoilers on every major social platform (Downton season three already aired in the U.K. but won’t premiere in the U.S. until next month). In November, The Sun revealed that First Lady Michelle Obama asked ITV for the new season and got it. Even Stephen Colbert poked fun at this the other week when the cast was in town promoting the show. Why isn’t the TV industry upset at the First Lady’s impatience? Why is she allowed to watch but not the rest of country? Here’s why the First Lady did the wrong thing by requesting the third season early. Read more

One of the most popular dramas on TV right now is Downton Abbey, the British show that has reinvigorated the possibilities of a period piece. We’ve covered the success this show has had both in the U.S. airing on PBS and across 100 countries where the show has been purchased to air. The third season of the show, taking place post World War I in the roaring 20s, just aired its sixth episode in the UK this Sunday. How can viewers in the U.S. and outside of the UK expect to wait to watch the new season? For over a decade TV fans around the world have been accessing their favorite TV content as they choose. Now, with a global social web it’s no longer acceptable to let the current business models destroy TV for fans. Here are the problems facing the global TV market. Read more