@ikillchicken: There are a number of points I would like to address and make...
[Pet Peeve Rant.]
#1: Nitpicking here, but (for me, anyway) it isn't so much price that is responsible for downloads but time. Why should I have to wait - and I am not exaggerating here - two YEARS for an episode to make its way from Japan to a DVD on a shelf in a store in my hometown? In today's world, that is unnecessary (two days with fansubs, not two years), and cruel (I am two YEARS behind in regards to my DVD collection and general Anime knowledge). All it does is make me have to choose between getting something two YEARS out of date, and performing what is technically an illegal act and download a fansub.
[/Pet Peeve Rant.]
#2: The first point you made, I already mentioned in my previous post. I claimed that it was a major stumbling block for such a scheme as the one Dust2 was proposing.
#3: It is my hope that people would take the sub that was earlier, guilt-free, and probably of a higher quality (anyone who says fansubbers are perfect should look at the subs for Gundam 00). Let us not forget LEGAL. So therefore I do agree that someone would have to have a dissimilar value base in order for them to cut the ads out. Unfortunately, there are people like that, and all it takes is one person.
#4: With that in mind, would I go for the fan-altered ad-free official download, or the original? Well, as someone who receives nine minutes of ads per half-hour of television, I would say the ad-free altered version is tempting. But I would take the original, simply to support the industry, and I believe that enough people would do the same that it COULD become profitable.
#5: So having given some thought into the subject, I think we could make the proposal by Dust2 better by moving the ads. If there were no ads in the actual download, just on the site hosting the downloads, then given possible visitor numbers it might just even out. For example, if enough production studios actually got on board, and the site was marketed as encouraging people to download a legal sub of their favourite series, then visitor numbers could be quite high. Imagine how many people do not download fansubs (for various reasons), but would like to. Then take the approximate number of fansub downloads for a show Gundam 00 (easily over 10,000 a week), multiply by the number of currently running shows (unsure, but for argument's sake only 10), and that is 100,000 views per week on the back of just currently running series. A back-catalogue would naturally push this number a lot higher.
With such exposure, fansub groups would not have the numbers they once enjoyed, with the new site offering all the new (and many old) shows quickly, with high-quality subs (in different languages), while also being entirely legal and free. Advertisers could target audiences a bit better than what television can deliver, and if studios wish, they can install a forum to allow viewers to provide crucial feedback, resulting in better Anime for fans to enjoy.
Yes, I can see what Dust2 is trying to get. But it won't be easy. Although I have faith that people will watch, the trouble is convincing the studios to go along with it. If the Japanese people decide to watch the ad-free version instead of the broadcasted version, then studio participation is likely to be zip (as I assume they have lucrative contracts with television broadcasters).
So anyway, to sum up #5, I reckon they should leave the ads on the hosting site only. Putting them in a download is probably the big reason that might stop people leaving the inferior (but ad free) fansubs. And even if someone decides to upload the Anime onto their own site, the loyalty of fans will stop that small minority from capitalising on it.
Five minutes, and already a post script is required:
POST SCRIPT: Okay, I may have gotten a little enthusiastic on this subject, but I yearn for a solution that will stop me downloading fansubs out of virtual necessity, as well give the Industry a helping hand. I apologise for getting carried away.
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