imran*

Yesterday, SciFi channel debuted Battlestar Galactica: The Resistance, a series of ten ‘webisodes’ due to run twice weekly throughout September, prior to the premiere of BSG’s third season in October.

I’m a huge fan of this show – the only SF show qualitatively on a par with the likes of The Sopranos and Six Feet Under – yet upon trying to watch the first webisode I was confronted with the message – We’re sorry but the clip you selected isn’t available from your location. Frak.

Needless to say, YouTube, newsgroups and torrents are distributing the first two segments, despite region restrictions, but unfortunately without the consent of the producers….so much for digital rights/regions management.

This is another short-sighted old media example of Imprisoning TV In Territories. SciFi Channel and the producers of BSG have learned nothing from the rabid piracy of this excellent show over the last two years. The Resistance should be helping to build buzz for the third season of BSG; why prevent non-US fans from seeing these webisodes when they could be marketing the show from their own blogs using services like YouTube!

So on an anti-DRM tip, here’s webisode 2, due to debut tonight: