GregHowley.com

via Wired News

The pilot for a TV show called Global Frequency was submitted to - and rejected by - The WB. Normally, that'd be the end of the story. However, this pilot somehow leaked onto the BitTorrent network. (torrent here) Suddenly, the show - which has never aired - is getting rave reviews.

From where I stand, this is a huge p2p success story - a show which would never gained popularity has done so because of file sharing. You'd think the network would be overjoyed. I know that the writer(s) must be. However, WB's official response is still...

While Warner Bros. Entertainment values feedback from consumers, copyright infringement is not a productive way to try to influence a corporate decision.

Next thing, they'll be estimating how much money they've lost as a result of this leak.

The show's writer can't publicly endorse the situation, but states that if he owned the rights, he'd 'put my pilot out on the internet in a heartbeat'. It's obvious to nearly everyone that the p2p model is an incredible way to promote when there's good content. Is WB upset because of illegedly lost profits, or because their Absolute Control has been threatened?

The show is based on a graphic novel by Warren Ellis.

The Global Frequency is an independent, illegal, covert intelligence agency determined to prevent international politics from undermining the security of the global community. Led by the former NSA agent Miranda Zero, GF is everywhere and nowhere - and it's mankind's best defense against everything that occurs outside our peripheral vision. This marvel of brains and machinery is hacked into every satellite, mainframe, cell phone and database across the globe. With the help of her central command dispatcher, the feisty but brilliant Aleph, Zero is just a phone call away from tapping anyone anywhere to volunteer their skills to help save the world.

Sounds intriguing - maybe I'll check it out.