Depends on how you look at it really... I mean technically, no, I don’t own streaming rights, but the vast majority of the content I own legally one way or another - either via physical media or digital purchase. I hate having to use physical disks though (honestly, I‘m just a sucker for a nice box) or rely on my internet connection to access media that I ‘own’ so after purchase I’ll rip it or download it and store on my Plex server. I have Cat 6 throughout our home which means that all my content is available on every screen via one interface - and why shouldn’t I be able to organise and store media that I’ve purchased in the way that best suits me? I’m sure the letter of the law says otherwise, but my moral compass says it’s a grey area.
In terms of streaming to select friends and family, I view it as an alternative method to lending them the Blu-ray which I’d be equally happy to do - and believe I would be legally able to do as long as I’m not charging. Again, I’ve purchased the media and ‘own’ it, so my moral compass doesn’t register this as an issue. I don’t charge of course and only have a few users.
I will happily admit though that some of my content is 100% pirated. If there is no legal way of obtaining a specific film or TV show in this country but it is available elsewhere in the world and therefore ends up online, that’s on them. I own films on DVD that I have 1080p copies of on Plex because the BR never came out in the UK and the US disc is region locked. I’m not going to watch the 480p copy I own when there is a 1080p copy available just because they can’t be bothered to release it over here. Similarly, there are some TV shows that can’t be purchased over here, no matter how much I’d like to do so. I can’t even purchase the digital copies on Amazon US due to region locking! I’d much rather give them my money, but if they don‘t want it then I’ll find alternative methods. It’s a shame as with some of the more obscure stuff I end up with lower quality copies than those I could and would purchase if only they’d let me.
Good news re the IPTV providers, can’t stand people profiting of off other people’s work and I’m honestly amazed at how brazen they’ve become. I’m more of a Sky Q man myself which I absolutely love.
Neil, as our resident expert - what are your thoughts on home 5G broadband?