Constantly changing the times of shows and not previewing them properly pushed me to the end of my limits back when they mucked around with Stargate SG1. Some say there is a project of television that is free which can help...........

After TV3's shoddy treatment of Top Chef, I resorted to downloading it, and am now watching it the day after it airs in the States, in HD without adverts. I appreciate TV companies cannot show programmes at the same time as overseas, but to stop shows halfway through with no warning to the viewer unless you delve deep into their discussion forums. Newsgroups make it so easy now to find shows, the TV companies are going to have to remember that at the end of the day they are there FOR us, and we like to know what's going on!

Good post - about time this topic is debated. I think the current model is outdated and on the way out the door. With the fiber to the door project content delivery will be much easier, creating an opportunity for media companies to either fill or try to patch over. I would be happy to pay a flat fee for access to any TV show I want, with full back catalog available and up-to date content (it's actually really brilliant to watch a Christmas TV special AT Christmas time). If that seems too hard and unreasonable it's what I have right now through d/l, why should the legitimate providers drag their heels so much?

In my house we regularly d/l, all well before they air on NZ TV.

Fringe Grey's Anatomy Entourage Weeds Caprica Big Bang Theory Chuck SGU How I Met Your Mother Community Cougar Town True Blood Secret Diary of a Call Girl

I agree completely. Also we miss out on shows such as Entourage and How to make it in America so the only way to get them is through the internet - or wait for them to come out on DVD, which takes ages and is expensive!

I'll tell you a quick story from about 10 years ago. I can't remember which channel was which, but the players were TV3 and TVNZ channel 2. I was watching the first season of Alias on the telly. Then it was announced that the second season would be on the other channel. So, what did the channel that was screening season one do?

They stopped screening with 4 episodes left. As the other channel didn't have season one rights, they couldn't screen them, so there was no way other than downloading to see those 4 episodes in NZ prior to DVD release (which I purchased I might add).

That was when I lost my faith in broadcast networks, and they seem to remind me every now and then that they haven't changed since then.

Given last week's debacle re TVNZ stopping the screening of Fringe halfway through series 2 with zero explanation... I can now say despite avoiding downloading tv shows in the past, bring it on...

Just on the DL, I DL most overseas TV, and I bought a Tivo to combat the bizarre scheduling of kiwi programming. It's also great to record This is not my My Life and dispense with the TEN MILLION ad breaks they have :-)

It's no wonder everybody just downloads or watches online at slightly shady sites based in the Cocos Islands. TVNZ are dragging the chain on a bunch of great shows which are well into second and third seasons, and will probably never show them, or if they do will broadcast at 3.00am, get the episodes out of order, and skip showing the finales. And that's for the lucky few who can actually get broadcast TV without needing a Sky subscription. None of my last 3 houses have had any TV reception whatsoever, and I'm in the middle of Wellington for chrissakes. TVNZ are just an irrelevancy, irritant and hindrance. Bring on a reasonably priced legal download option like Netflix or iTunes, and I'll be there.

I definately agree that it takes too long for NZ to get most american shows. And with so many shows having cliffhangers and spoilers all over the internet, I sux to have to wait for shows!

Totally legit I reckon. We get stuffed around so much by the TV broadcasters in NZ. Look at how badly TVNZ butchered The Pacific.