Film industry shows how it's (sorta) easy to legally watch movies online
In an effort to steer viewers away from torrents, the MPAA has just launched Where to Watch, a site to help you find legit streaming TV shows and movies. To distinguish itself from services like Flixster, the group (which represents Hollywood's major studios) is offering the site ad-free in the US only. It searches options from major streaming services like Amazon, Netflix and iTunes, as well as smaller players, but there are a few notable omissions like HBO Go. And though it lists theater showings, Where to Watch doesn't point out when certain films are on cable or free-to-air TV, making it a poor substitute for, say, TV.com.
The MPAA also (indirectly) acknowledged that the site doesn't address one huge issue: the gap between the broadcast or theatrical release of shows and their availability for purchase or streaming. That's when viewers often turn to illegal downloading for lack of other viewing options. That means the new site isn't likely to discourage piracy for popular shows and doesn't add anything new to existing sites, at least for now. Still, points to the MPAA for being more proactive than usual, and some cord-cutters may find the site useful -- as long as they're willing to avoid temptation.
