UFC Could Be Furthering Measures Against Internet Piracy

by Cannon Jacques on Apr 17, 2009 3:04 PM EDT in News Comment 45 comments

BayTSP, a company that assists clients in defending against piracy, recently released some information regarding their efforts. To wit:

One global sports franchise and two of the largest pay-per-view event promoters in the world have signed with BayTSP to protect and monetize broadcasts valued at more than $5 billion annually, the company announced today.
...

"Pay-per-view broadcasters were some of the first to see the value of Internet streaming technology as a revenue source beyond television," Ishikawa said. "But it only works if viewers subscribe to the event or view it via the authorized sites, which usually include event-related promotions."

BayTSP’s clients include one of the world’s biggest sports franchises, which uses CAP to monitor for highlights clips posted by fans on video hosting sites like YouTube, DailyMotion and Yahoo Video. A major pay-per-view promoter uses CAP to monitor for unauthorized live video streams, which fans often announce in discussion forums.

"A growing number of unauthorized steams are in high definition, offering the same quality as the official streams," Ishikawa said. "As streaming technology becomes cheaper and easier to use, broadcasters run the risk of losing a larger share of their audiences unless they meet this challenge head on."

Robert Joyner speculates on who the pay-per-view event promoters might be:

The logical companies to attach to this information would be the UFC and WWE for the PPV event promoters and Manchester United Football Club for the global sports franchise. The crackdown has already been cited by some as a possible reason behind the precipitous drop in traffic at the streaming site Justin.tv.

Considering how closely they guard any type of media product derived from their promotion, it makes sense that the UFC would be one of the players in question. As far as watching a PPV event without paying, it makes total sense and is understandable that Zuffa would want to hold piracy to a minimum. We're talking about their main revenue stream. Zuffa is in a similar unenviable position as musicians and record companies were in a few years ago. While technology can be the conduit for additional revenue, it can also be a means for theft - or how ever you would like to term such acts. Anytime a successful company attempts to stop the unauthorized use of their products, the masses that utilize nefarious means of obtaining said product, and some that don't, will likely voice their disgust.

It would be interesting to know if the BayTSP technology is as effective as is being touted. You can check out the link inside the Joyner excerpt for more on that. Stay tuned.

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Read More: pay-per-view, ufc, baytsp, business of mma, zuffa

Comments

I have a better answer. Make more less marketable cards free or make PPVs cheaper. I can’t afford to buy them all

by EazyEismydad on Apr 17, 2009 3:09 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

This.

The Bird is the Word.

by IHateMMA on Apr 17, 2009 3:28 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

This shit is so ridiculous. Do they realize how easy it is for someone to stream a PPV event over the Internet? It’s incredibly easy, and we’re talking about a lot of people just hooking their TV into the tuner card, and poof, streams. Is their technology going to instantaneously pop a dialog up saying so and so is streaming at this location? Hell no, they’ll stop the people who are streaming through huge sites like Justin.tv, but who cares.

Furthermore, if someone really wanted to stream and be without consequence, they could buy co-location space or a server space if Korea, China, Sweden, Norway, the list goes on, of countries that could give two shits about the laws in the U.S.

Follow my analysis of all things MMA on BloodyElbow.com

by Leland Roling on Apr 17, 2009 3:15 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

True supporters of the sport would not stoop to low levels such as piracy.

Let me tell you what i do. If i can not afford a PPV i go to a local bar. I get to order a buffaloe sandwich with a salad and some ice cold water for the whole night. Costs me 10 dollars. Then when i get a big payday i buy a couple shirts. My whole closet is filled with affliction, tapout, contact killer, chute boxe, and various fight team shirts. This is what i do to support my favorite sport. I have not and will never steal from the sport i love.

There are measures that can be taken and need to be taken to stop a lot of the piracy.

If you are so desperate that you need to steal to watch a show then you need to ask your friend for $10 and go to the bar and watch the fight.

by Rensokuken on Apr 17, 2009 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

True supporters of the sport would not stoop to low levels such as piracy.

You’re living in a fantasy land then. True supporters will buy the event, but there are plenty of major fans out there who love MMA who simply see the value in saving money, especially when so many cards stack a month.

If you truly love the UFC, you buy the event. That’s exactly what I do, but I also barely pay a dollar for it because I have a large group of people watch it with me. I still know plenty of huge MMA fans that simply don’t want to shell out the money.

Follow my analysis of all things MMA on BloodyElbow.com

by Leland Roling on Apr 17, 2009 4:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is all true

But the point im making is 10 dollars gets you the event at a local bar and you get fed and a drink if you would like for another 5. The economy is rough but 10 dollars every 2 weeks is hardly a hard hit to the bank even in the hard economy.

by Rensokuken on Apr 17, 2009 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Depends if you have a paycheck.

I watch it at sports bars because others are willing to pay for me – I owe them a lot of money once I’m able to pay it back. If I couldn’t do that, I’d either watch a stream or youtube of the fights.

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett

by themachiavellian on Apr 17, 2009 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I dont get the same feeling watching a fight on youtube then when its live. One time i was showing someone a highlight of Wanderlei Silva and while its kind of cool to see its not the same just watching a brand new, live fight. I get nothing from watching a fight that isnt live anymore. Especially if i know the results of it, ruins the whole thing.

by Rensokuken on Apr 17, 2009 4:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree – watching it live is best, especially with a crowd that’s into it. However, if others didn’t support my UFC habit, I couldn’t afford to watch them. I would be more than willing to buy the PPVs if I had the money. I also don’t care if I know the winner because that would prevent me from enjoying replays of it.

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett

by themachiavellian on Apr 17, 2009 9:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Technically, sports bars and showing PPV events is another debateable topic in the piracy scheme of things, but we’ll avoid that right now.

Other issues revolve around people not wanting to go to a bar to watch a fight. They don’t like the loud noise, etc. I also know of a couple of sports bars here in my hometown that won’t buy the UFC event, and Hooters is packed with old men in sweatpants on most Saturday evenings.

I see your point however.

Follow my analysis of all things MMA on BloodyElbow.com

by Leland Roling on Apr 17, 2009 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ive gone to this bar here for 4 years and the owner said he pays 2500 to have it viewed on the big screens he has. I mean its really great, UFC plus a really nice buffaloe sandwich which is my favorite. The night dosnt get any better.

by Rensokuken on Apr 17, 2009 4:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I buy almost every UFC PPV that is put out there, because I feel a need to support a sport that gives me great pleasure. If I could I would buy DREAM cards too.

With this news, however, I am going to stop buying UFC PPV, and start downloading them instead.

On the heels of The Pirate Bay being found guilty, it’s going to be more and more important for people to stand up against this kind of nonsense.

by AnonymousA on Apr 17, 2009 3:22 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

and that will be constructive how exactly?

by Benicio on Apr 17, 2009 6:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Once they shut down one of the major places to watch streaming MMA events, another will pop up by the next PPV.

by Buddha Brown on Apr 17, 2009 3:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It’s damn near impossible to stop internet piracy nowadays – the govt is always playing catch-up. The savviest know how to work the law into submission (it’s remarkable that the admins at The Pirate Bay were found guilty, but they’ll probably win their appeal). I can’t blame them for wanting to protect their product – it’s how the UFC makes money, which allows them to continue their product.

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett

by themachiavellian on Apr 17, 2009 3:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Trying To Stop Piracy Doesn't Work

People who typically pirate something, weren’t going to purchase it anyways. It’s like that with music and it is like that with movies.

And no stream is going to be as good as watching it at home with a bunch of friends on the big screen.

by AlwaysRelaxing on Apr 17, 2009 3:44 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Leave Justin alone!

He didn’t hurt nobody!

by mythbuster on Apr 17, 2009 3:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

They may not be able to stop piracy, but they sure as hell can put a pretty big dent in it.

For every tech savvy fan out there who knows an abundance of places where he can grab a stream, there are ten fans who know about one site and one site only. Knocking out the big streaming sites will have a pretty substantial impact, even if it won’t stop it altogether.

by Steve4192 on Apr 17, 2009 3:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Unfortunately for the UFC, Korea is one of the biggest places to see the events. They literally pirate a feed right onto a national television network. With that said, there are about a million ways to see that broadcast.

Follow my analysis of all things MMA on BloodyElbow.com

by Leland Roling on Apr 17, 2009 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My stance has always been simple..

You’re not supporting the sport if you’re not paying for the PPV’s. Hanging around sites like this doesn’t put money in fighter or promotion pockets. Simply “enjoying” the sport is different from supporting it.

I’m not passing judgment here. But I get a little tired of message boards being filled with people “justifying” stealing PPV feeds. There is a difference between being a fan, and being a supporter.

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

http://CurseOfRonKarkovice.blogspot.com/

by Brent Brookhouse on Apr 17, 2009 4:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

And what I mean by that...

is that you don’t get to claim that you’re a better fan than some frat boy douchebag and his friends who chipped in to cover the show. They’re paying the bills…you’re just some dude who likes to watch fights.

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

http://CurseOfRonKarkovice.blogspot.com/

by Brent Brookhouse on Apr 17, 2009 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

Oh...

and watching at a bar is fine.

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

http://CurseOfRonKarkovice.blogspot.com/

by Brent Brookhouse on Apr 17, 2009 4:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks! How do you compare paying 55 bucks to 15 when you get buffaloe wings/sandwich and a beer?

by Rensokuken on Apr 17, 2009 5:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My thing...

is more that you should be watching the PPV somewhere where it was paid for. If a bar pays for it and your share of the split is $0.10 then you’re still watching by legit means. Also you’re providing incentive for that bar to order shows again in the future. AND THEN you’re also watching it in an environment where people could be turned on to the sport and order it in their house down the road. When you’re stealing a feed you’re not contributing to anything…

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

http://CurseOfRonKarkovice.blogspot.com/

by Brent Brookhouse on Apr 17, 2009 5:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well

Over here its a bar and grill so they pay like 2500 or so and its diplayed on numerous screens so people at different angels can enjoy it, 6 big screens and about 40 smaller ones.

by Rensokuken on Apr 17, 2009 6:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What about all the people that just watch the UFC on Spike?

I know your talking about PPV’s but how do you feel about these things.

Are the people that just watch all the free UFC Fight Nights and all the various UFC shows on Spike just fans or are they supporters of the sport?

If someone has been visiting 10 different MMA websites a day are they just fans or are they supporters of those sites?

Does visiting MMA websites help support the sport of MMA?

I think if you are a fan of MMA you are automatically a supporter of MMA.

by mattman73 on Apr 17, 2009 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not if you're stealing PPV's..

You support nothing by watching PPV’s via illegal means.

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

http://CurseOfRonKarkovice.blogspot.com/

by Brent Brookhouse on Apr 17, 2009 6:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m not condoning stealing PPVs but a lot of the people that pirate PPVs can’t afford to buy them.

However they do watch all the free MMA related shows they can and visit MMA websites all the time therefore supporting the sport in what way they can.

by mattman73 on Apr 17, 2009 6:36 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

It still makes 0 sense to steal anything ever, especially as a form of entertainment let alone how much damage all stolen feeds harm the sport as a whole. In the grand scheme of things millions was lost last year due to it.

by Rensokuken on Apr 17, 2009 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

confession of a sinner

None of my friends are mma fan so it makes no sense to get the PPV by myself (and I don’t even have cable). So I usually go to a bar (in Canada) to watch the fights. I get the list of Canadian bars from the official distributor list so I know they are paying for it.
Still, one time I was too tired so I ordered the PPV on Yahoo. I have a Mac and the stream was a bitch. Since then, I figured out how to watch it for free and I’ve done that three times but I still much rather go to a bar. I like the noise, I like the crowds, I like the 20 TVs and I love the beer.
I got my 400$ ticket for this weekend event. It will be my first live event and I hope I’ll go to more.

So, yes I steal the occasional stream but I support the sport when I can. I could see myself ordering it online again if they fix the issues with Mac. Does that makes me a bad fan? Maybe, but I just can’t afford to buy 12 pay per views a year by myself.

by DrTopo on Apr 17, 2009 4:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

TUF

What about TUF? I can’t watch it at home since I don’t get Spike. Is it bad to download a show that’s free on TV? This said, I’m gonna watch episode 3 right now, it’s hot in the oven.

by DrTopo on Apr 17, 2009 4:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think something you could watch...

for free on TV is really a bad thing to download. That’s me personally. I know there are some issues with advertisers not getting the visibility they pay for. But that doesn’t bother me much

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

http://CurseOfRonKarkovice.blogspot.com/

by Brent Brookhouse on Apr 17, 2009 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kudos to the guys who buy the PPV's or watch it at bars

Makes me feel very lucky and appreciative that we get PPV’s here for free.

"Because I rode in here on my fucking Thunderhorse and handled business."

by skeed on Apr 17, 2009 5:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Another issue is these illegal downloads add so much extra exposure especially in countries like Aus where if you dont have pay tv (less than half do) then it is impossible to see the event. The TUF season with Hughes/Serra is only now showing on pay tv here too.

A lot can be said for how many more eyeballs get exposed to the product then go on to become paying fans from an illegal DL being passed around.

by Benicio on Apr 17, 2009 6:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

what about non-official bars???

I own a business on a college campus in GA. Some girls from a local bar came by and dropped off some promo cardsfor ufc 97. on one side is the official poster for 97, the other side has “no cover charge / Adress and Restaurant/bar name”

The problem is that i can’t find the restarant name on the official list of bars showing the event.

by ironic sumo on Apr 17, 2009 7:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

um...

that I don’t know about. Thanks for stumping me on my moral stance. ;)

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

http://CurseOfRonKarkovice.blogspot.com/

by Brent Brookhouse on Apr 17, 2009 8:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

sorry....

altough i can’t take any high ground either… I sometimes use “nefarious” means to watch MMA PPVs (UFC, Affliction, Dream…..)

I’ve ordered a couple at home, but i can’t afford them all the time. None of my friends are MMA fans, and i feel like a tool going to a bar alone.

by ironic sumo on Apr 17, 2009 9:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Disregarding the moral debate about piracy, this kind of stuff is really fruitless. The people pirating PPVs aren’t going to be buying it if they can’t get access otherwise. You’re essentially spending $X million dollars to gain zero dollars back. Meanwhile you (potentially) reduce the exposure of the sport and the organization.

http://www.sackmikegoldberg.com

by Mike Fagan on Apr 17, 2009 10:28 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs

rec'd

by mythbuster on Apr 18, 2009 1:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think that’s particularly true. There’s absolutely no doubt that stopping piracy altogether is unrealistic at best. However, to say that you can’t gain any benefit by making piracy more difficult isn’t correct. I can’t speak about what the UFC is doing or if they’re doing anything – remember all of this is speculation. One problem regarding effectiveness is that it’s difficult to verify results from efforts against those that are working in the dark, so you can claim great results or you can claim zero benefits. Wal-Mart can’t catch every shoplifter, but they still spend money on security. There is some deterrent created by the mere fact that stealing isn’t easy as picking up change off the ground.

Secondly, I don’t know that everyone pirating PPVs wouldn’t but them if they had to. I would venture to guess that if pirating became so easy and accepted that it would be far more pervasive. Eventually, people that are paying for PPVs would start streaming for free. Not everyone is a tech geek that knows how and where to obtain a stream, but the easier it is to find a pirated stream, the larger the pool of people willing to participate.

by Cannon Jacques on Apr 18, 2009 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

lol because I do not order or go to a bar to watch UFC, does not make me a less of an MMA fan than all of you all. I watch the UFC/Dream events streaming when I can, considering, most my close circle of friends hate mixed martial arts. and trying to find a BW3’s, Hooters that is allowing seating is very very hard, especially since you are a laid off worker, who barely gets by making payments every month. It is very hard for me to lay down that extra money at Hooters/BDubs, or order a $50 dollar PPV. So I watch it online for free. Is it illegal? Of course, it is, but what else am I supposed to do when I don’t have money? So that I can watch the sport, I love, that i train in, for free is something very nice and relaxing for somebody who does not have the money available to throw down that extra cash. Am I taking anything away from the fighters, by not going out to the local idiot zone? No. Because I am sure my $10 that I spend on food, does not go anywhere near the UFC, so what I am doing is hurting the bar, and not the UFC.

by "Mr. NC-17" on Apr 17, 2009 10:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It doesn't make you not a fan..

but you can’t claim that fighters should get paid more if you’re not doing one of the main things that drives money for a promotion. For any show you steal…for that event you are not as good of a fan as someone who spends the money on it. I stand firm by that.

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

http://CurseOfRonKarkovice.blogspot.com/

by Brent Brookhouse on Apr 17, 2009 10:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’ve spent money on UFC, I’ve bought DVD’s, Merchandise, PPV’s, Live Events I have put my money inside of the UFC’s bank. Just because, I am in a extremely tough financial period of my life, in which I can not afford spending the extra money on a bar or PPV, I don’t see how that does not make me “as good as a fan.” So, with this live streaming, it helps me keep in tact with something I love.
But let me ask you this, Let’s say I stream tomorrows PPV event (in which I wont, because I have something I have to do) and I get take out from hooters, I spend ten dollars at hooters, and I come home and watch the free streaming event. What’s the difference?

by "Mr. NC-17" on Apr 17, 2009 11:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I could be wrong on this, but I thought the cost of PPVs for bars to scales depending on the amount of patrons they get.

I won’t suggest that those who can’t afford to order PPVs are lesser fans because I was in that situation when I was studying a couple of years ago, but anybody who pirates a PPV has no credibility in criticising the UFC on fighter payouts.

by rabrown on Apr 18, 2009 1:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Another major issue that comes up in regards to bars.. some of us unfortuatally live in smaller towns or rural areas and there are no bars to visit to watch the fights, which is what I would do if I had the option. When you have an oversaturation of events, higher prices compared to a few years ago.. you will run into these things.

If you make a card stacked from the top to the bottom, avoid putting shitty TUFers on the main card and put some of the undercard talent that deserves to be on the main event on, and charge a little less.. more sales by volume, and people won’t have to resort to piracy to keep up with thier favorite sport.

I do buy the events on DVD when they come out, but expecting a fan who can’t afford PPV and can’t go to the bar to wait until the events come out on DVD is asking way too much. Take a note from the PRIDE business model.. the full card for 29.99 or 35.99

by todaymurderislegal on Apr 19, 2009 11:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs