Simulcast Has To Be The Future

Over the last few decade the ways we watch TV have changed and it seems there must only be one way forward and that is to simulcast programs between the UK and US. TV executives are always talking about the problem of piracy, yet they expect fans to wait (months in some cases). Now I'm not saying that waiting is a bad thing, I try to do it, but its a sad fact that in the modern age we tend not to wait. Next week Game of Thrones will start it's fourth season (There is no words to say just how excited I am for this!!) and to do so Sky Atlantic will be simulcast live from the US and it seems that if networks are serious about piracy this is the way to go. 

It's easy to see an example of how modern audiences are simply not willing to wait for their favorite US shows anymore, just look at the recent cut backs that have been made by Channel 5. The Walking Dead is the prime example of this, for the last few years it has been shown on Fox UK shortly after it's US air date, it's now down to be shown less then 24 hours later, but then was shown months later on the more widely available Channel 5. But its recent removal from 5 shows that it is simply not worth doing. Perhaps Fox's idea is just as good as simulcast as it means the audience only have wait less then a day.

A huge problem of course is that the internet and social media in particular means that your likely to run into spoilers at some point the longer you wait. This can be easily seen by any UK readers who i bet if they look at their Facebook or Twitter feeds will undoubtedly find spoilers about the finale of How I Met Your Mother despite the fact that E4 only just aired the 8th episode of season 9!! Its a sad fact that in order to not have the show ruined for you, you have to watch it pretty much as soon as it aired, For example is there anyone who will not have seen some mention to the Red Wedding on social media or even on news sites? This is the sad world that we live in and no doubt simulcasting or even allowing programs to be available on sites such as Netflix the day after US release will surely be not only beneficial to both audience and executives alike!!