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Television Movies Piracy Privacy Security Entertainment

Hackers Leak Eight Episodes of An Unreleased ABC Show (torrentfreak.com) 87

The hacking entity TheDarkOverlord (TDO) has reportedly leaked Steve Harvey's Funderdome via The Pirate Bay. TDO said they approached ABC "with a most handsome business proposal" not to leak eight episodes of the ABC show but was "rudely denied an audience." TorrentFreak reports: Late April, a hacking group calling itself TheDarkOverlord (TDO) warned that unless a ransom was paid, it would begin leaking a trove of unreleased TV shows and movies. Almost immediately it carried through with its threat by leaking the season five premiere of Netflix's Orange is The New Black. The leak was just the start though, with another nine episodes quickly following. Netflix had clearly refused to pay any ransom. "We've just released ABC's 'Steve Harvey's Funderdome' Season 01 Episodes 01 through 08. This is a completely unaired show," TDO told TF. Ever since there have been suggestions that TDO could leak additional material. It was previously established that the Orange is the New Black leak was the result of a breach at post-production studio Larson Studios. TDO previously indicated that it had more content up its sleeve from the same location. During the past few hours that became evident when a message sent to TF heralded a new leak of yet another unaired show. TDO refused to confirm where it had obtained the content but since the show was present in an earlier list distributed by TDO, it seems possible if not probable that the episodes were also obtained from Larson. We're unwilling to discuss the source of this material, but we'll go on the record stating that this is content that is owned by American Broadcasting Company and it's just been released on the world wide web for everyone's consumption," TDO said.
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Hackers Leak Eight Episodes of An Unreleased ABC Show

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  • by barc0001 ( 173002 ) on Monday June 05, 2017 @05:24PM (#54554951)

    Inflicting a Steve Harvey show on the world seems cruel.

    • by lucm ( 889690 )

      He's a confirmed superstar now, as he finally made the frontpage of the National Enquirer.

      http://www.nationalenquirer.co... [nationalenquirer.com]

      The ENQUIRER also discovered the “Little Big Shots” host, 60, is so terrified his depraved split personality will be exposed that he’s degenerated into a recluse, surrounding himself with 'round-the-clock armed security — that costs a whopping $25,000 a month!

    • Why do you think nobody paid to stop them? They knew what the show is like.

  • I'm wondering if the leaks will hurt or help the ratings. Some people will watch the downloads instead of the broadcasts, but those people may generate buzz for the shows (if they're any good) and increase the excitement and eventual ratings.

    If the shows are lousy, the leaks will probably hurt, but otherwise they should help.

    • I'm wondering if the leaks will hurt or help the ratings. Some people will watch the downloads instead of the broadcasts, but those people may generate buzz for the shows (if they're any good) and increase the excitement and eventual ratings.

      If the shows are lousy, the leaks will probably hurt, but otherwise they should help.

      I suppose some people that would never normally watch it might just because they can get a pirated copy.

      • by ShanghaiBill ( 739463 ) on Monday June 05, 2017 @06:51PM (#54555505)

        1. If a Netflix subscriber watches the pirated show, Netflix loses nothing, and saves because they aren't providing the bandwidth.
        2. If a non-subscriber watches the show, they may become a subscriber to see future episodes.

        Either way, Netflix wins, plus they are getting free publicity. This is such an obvious win for Netflix, that I wonder if they faked the whole thing and actually put it on PB themselves.

        • So you are arguing that a conspiracy is more plausible than poor security? I'd say that poor security is a given, hackers demanding ransom happens constantly. Sure, it isn't an awful advertising campaign but I think that simply influenced their decision making upon receiving the ransom demand.
          • I'm mostly arguing that a conspiracy is more likely than anyone giving enough of a fuck about a show starring someone nobody wants to see to go out of their way to steal it.

        • No idea the relative likelihood of these options, but here's the option they're worried about: 3. If a non-subscriber wants to watch the show, they will go with a free option if available instead of becoming a subscriber.
    • Let's face facts: This show was cancelled before it even aired.

    • Probably neither.
      How many people will hit the pirate website for an unverified released of a show? It is a case where it is more work then a gain. Just because if you wait a bit it will be broadcast and you can get the real bit. With the ability to do the water cooler talk without FBI knocking at your door.
       

  • Alright (Score:5, Funny)

    by DontBeAMoran ( 4843879 ) on Monday June 05, 2017 @05:26PM (#54554977)

    Can TDO get off their collective arses and release seasons 2 through 8 of Firefly?

  • by gweihir ( 88907 ) on Monday June 05, 2017 @05:30PM (#54555003)

    I mean, having a large amount of your top trade secrets stolen can only be one thing: The result of extreme incompetence. Sounds very much like some bean-counter felt smart saving a few $100k and now there is a loss some 1000x that as a result. Very low amateur level.

  • by Anonymous Coward

    ABC probably knows it's a steamer, and is trying to generate some buzz with the "fellow kids".

  • Maybe, maybe not... (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Frosty Piss ( 770223 ) * on Monday June 05, 2017 @05:32PM (#54555013)

    Nobody wantâ(TM)s to watch Steve Harvey's Funderdome. Nobody. Could it be that this "leak" was actually done by ABC in an attempt to stir up interest? Thereâ(TM)s really no telling if it was "TheDarkOverlord" at all.

    • by Tailhook ( 98486 ) on Monday June 05, 2017 @05:56PM (#54555181)

      Even if I wanted to watch Steve Harvey I haven't got the time. The little time I spend watching tee vee is completely booked for the foreseeable future with a deluge on new content; we're in some kind of tvpocalypse with so much new stuff being made it's a full time job to watch all of it. I haven't watched a rerun of anything since 2014. I don't care if some "hacker" "leaks" a couple episodes of Orange is The New Black "season" five because I HAVEN'T EVEN WATCHED THE FIRST FOUR SEASONS yet.

      I just got through Son's of Anarchy and they quit making those 3 years ago. Next will be another walking dead "season", another GOT, another whatever... Fuck do I care what these people are leaking? Like I'm going to install some creepyware pirating crap and go mess around on a pirate bay server and get my IP added to the list of scoflaws..... why would I do that?

      Honestly... what is being accomplished here? Is anything of value being lost by anyone?

      • by lucm ( 889690 )

        I just got through Son's of Anarchy and they quit making those 3 years ago. Next will be another walking dead "season", another GOT, another whatever...

        What about Midsomer Murders? 19 seasons already. A total of 114 episodes of +90 minutes. If you start now, you can be done in a mere week, provided that you watch it 24h a day. Or you coud spend that week watching 12 seasons of Supernatural (264 episodes).

        Or if you prefer old school soaps, why not start General Hospital? 13,768 episodes and counting. That's 10 years of medical drama, full time, and even given the "sparse" plot, it's probably better than Steve Harvey Boringdome.

        • by Nethead ( 1563 )

          Shut up! I'm already over 200 episodes behind on Master Chef Australia.

          • by lucm ( 889690 )

            Shut up! I'm already over 200 episodes behind on Master Chef Australia.

            Stop that immediately, and upgrade to Deep-Fried Masters.

            https://www.youtube.com/watch?... [youtube.com]

            Quote from that episode:

            When they put my food in their mouth, they gonna slap their own self.
            - Lumpy

            Yes, it has come to that. Drunk rednecks deep-frying stuff on TV. Next step: become the fat people floating in flying chairs like in Wall-e.

            • by Nethead ( 1563 )

              Damn it! Now you have me looking at drones on banggood and Lazy-Boys on Amazon. I'm going to kill myself when this flips and can't reach my drink.

        • by Calydor ( 739835 )

          Well, Midsomer Murders started really going down the drain after they replaced the original Barnaby.

  • by Anonymous Coward

    For asking for money. Either just release it into the wild or shut the fuck up, trying to get payed only shows you are fucking whores.

  • what really happened is someone from ABC walked into Harvey's dressing room without an appointment.

  • Netflix and cable subscribers are now, almost by definition, people who are too lazy/wealthy/unskilled to pirate things, and they're not going to drop their subscription because they could see one show early for free. Holding a blockbuster movie for ransom, on the other hand, would make a lot of sense.

  • "The Dark Overlord" don't seem to be having much luck with their business model.
  • In addition to releasing these shows on TPB, could you also wedge them into Amazon Prime Video so I can watch them? Cause if not, I just don't have the time.

    kthanksbye

  • There is nothing like felony convictions for conspiracy and extortion to shut down your favorite pirate sites permanently. No more pretending this is harmless "file sharing" and not old-school big time crime.
  • by PopeRatzo ( 965947 ) on Monday June 05, 2017 @07:23PM (#54555743) Journal

    Even the remote possibility of accidentally downloading eight episodes of a new Steve Harvey show is enough to keep me off Pirate Bay for the rest of my life.

  • They've released a Steve Harvey show into the wild. The internet will come crashing down because of all that extra downloading.

  • None of the shows "leaked" for me anyway, aren't worth the time or risk to download and watch.

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