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P2P movie sharing continues to rise rapidly

As time goes on, the number of file sharers is continuing to rise. While the numbers on the most popular P2P networks might be falling (or staying flat), interest in software such as BitTorrent is not failing to grow. As for those who have been casual music downloaders, BitTorrent - with a lot of support behind it - is starting to drag them towards downloading movies, including pre-release copies.

While movies have been available online for years and many millions of file sharers have been downloading them, the focus for many more is changing from music to movies and TV shows quickly as they discover BitTorrent and abandon the older, slower methods. The RIAA has tried to reduce the level of music sharing online, but even on the file sharing networks which have been hammered by lawsuits, the level stayed just about about flat over the past year.



"There have been years when we have seen double-digit percentage growth," Eric Garland, cofounder and CEO of BigChampagne, told Ars. "Compared to that, the last 12 months have been rather flat." BigChampagne notes that the average torrent had 817,588 people participating in May 2006, now that figure had jumped to 1,357,318 seeders and leechers, a growth of about 66%.

Music is also very popular on BitTorrent trackers, except the focus is on downloading full ripped albums and not just single tracks like on P2P networks. There is also a noticeable but small demand for HD content ripped from HD DVD and Blu-ray disc's on several popular BitTorrent trackers. BigChampagne has also noticed a rise in darknet activity but said it's difficult to get a holistic view of what's going on with "underground" networks.

Source:
Ars Technica

Written by: James Delahunty @ 8 Jul 2007 19:11

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• 7 comments

• webe123

  It seems that everyone talks about Bit Torrent, but the BEST way to get files is NEWSGROUPS...hands down. I am using my free ISP one and STILL get great speeds...they are using Giganews now.....they switched from AT&T...So I can get even really OLD releases with my newsgroups.
  
  And movies on there don't take any time to get. And you don't have to seed anything back like on private Bit Torrent sites.

  8.7.2007 23:47 #1

• Dela

  i didn't mention Usenet in my article because any time i do, long time Usenet users who despise the the recent migration of P2P users to Usenet complain in PMs. Same happens on all sites, I've seen articles from sites like Slyck on Digg.com gathering comments from people saying "just please STFU about Usenet OK?" - they blame these sites for destroying everything by finding a way to make it popular amongst critical mass and hence, making it a notable target.
  
  In a way, I understand their concern as any illusiuon that Usenet providers (or userS) are immune to legal action... is false

  9.7.2007 00:23 #2

• ZippyDSM

  TO usenet elites
  Usenet went above ground years ago 0-o,really wake up and get use 0-o

  9.7.2007 05:49 #3

• emugamer

  There is also warez. Not sure how much longer that will last. File hosting sites may get hit eventually with new lawsuits stipulating that they become more accountable for what is hosted besides simply responding to reporters. The RIAA needs to finish digesting bittorrent first. Nobody I know uses bittorrent anymore anyway. They were using it for a few years and were able to see the warning signs. It's surprising to me how many people are just discovering bittorrent. I find it funny when I read posts from people who have received letters from their ISP's about their downloading habits asking, "Do you think I should be concerned? I just downloaded the new Chili Peppers" :-P

  9.7.2007 08:06 #4

• bomb12guy

  hey i have a question how do you use bittorrent is there a forum and is there a way to get pre release movies ?

  10.7.2007 17:54 #5

• hermes_vb

  There's also IRC...

  12.7.2007 20:39 #6

• borhan9

  The use of P2P is never going to dive. Its just a fact.

  16.7.2007 20:32 #7