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Login to post Forums » Off-topic discussion » How can I legally watch top gear « 1 2 »
  • 2.0dohc

    Nov. 16, 2009 5:39 p.m. 2.0dohc New Reader

    just like the title says... since hesmo went down, are there any other streaming sites? we don't get the bbc, and it would just be the boring American version anyway.

  • pinchvalve

    Nov. 16, 2009 5:49 p.m. pinchvalve UltraDork

    Move to England.

    Buy the DVD's

    Marry James May.

    Write a letter to Clarkson and beg.

  • GlennS

    Nov. 16, 2009 6:04 p.m. GlennS HalfDork

    locate a person who regularly watches TG in front of an open window.

  • GlennS

    Nov. 16, 2009 6:13 p.m. GlennS HalfDork

    or this?

    http://www.watchtopgear.org/

  • Keith

    Nov. 16, 2009 6:22 p.m. Keith PowerDork

    Dunno if it's legal (not sure watching through the open window would be either), but that might be an option for those who are scared of torrents I'm sure Clarkson would love to have it aired in the US in real time.

  • EastCoastMojo

    Nov. 16, 2009 6:28 p.m. EastCoastMojo SuperDork

    Get invited on the show?

  • billy3esq

    Nov. 16, 2009 6:28 p.m. billy3esq Dork

    From what I understand, it's impossible to watch UK Top Gear legally in the U.S. The problem lies in the soundtrack. The BBC has a compulsory license to all audio content used in the program by operation of law in the UK. However, that license does not extend outside the UK. You'll notice that the US versions frequently use different music than the UK version.

    As a result, even if the BBC let you watch the versions on their website (which they don't if you're outside the UK), there would still be infringement going on in the soundtrack. Who the infringer would be in that case is an interesting question, though. (I can argue that it would be both the viewer and the BBC.)

  • oldsaw

    Nov. 16, 2009 6:56 p.m. oldsaw HalfDork

    pinchvalve wrote:

    Write a letter to Clarkson and beg.

    Clarkson would use that letter to bash atavistic America, record a show, write a book and make even more money.

    And we still wouldn't new episodes aired in a timely fashion.

  • neon4891

    Nov. 16, 2009 11:12 p.m. neon4891 UberDork

    Marry Capt. Slow? While having a same sex marriage isn't on my to-do list, I would give it a shot.

    Also, casttv.com and iTunes

  • Gearheadotaku

    Nov. 17, 2009 1:19 p.m. Gearheadotaku Reader

    Are the DVD's the UK airing, or the 'sanitized for your protection' US watered down stuff?

  • Keith

    Nov. 17, 2009 3:23 p.m. Keith PowerDork

    I expect the US DVDs are the US version, and the UK DVDs (assuming they exist) are the UK version. NTSC vs PAL isn't such a big deal if you have a laptop or HDTV :)

  • Jay

    Nov. 17, 2009 3:29 p.m. Jay Dork

    The Indonesian DVDs I have are the best versions.

  • Chebbie_SB

    Nov. 17, 2009 3:48 p.m. Chebbie_SB HalfDork

    I have just finished episode 1 of season 14 on Streetfire.net

    I search for Top Gear within the last 7 days and like the episodes posted by NismoGTrR34 best !!

    Give it a whirl !

  • DrBoost

    Nov. 17, 2009 4:37 p.m. DrBoost HalfDork

    Netflix my boy. I've got season 10 on the way, and the others waiting in my "saved" cue.

  • Nov. 17, 2009 4:40 p.m. skruffy Dork

    Just download the torrent from finalgear. The BBC isn't going to waste their time tracking you down out of the hundreds of thousands of people that download top gear every week. The producer has even talked about final gear in his blog. Trust me, they don't care.

  • 5ev3n

    Nov. 17, 2009 5:08 p.m. 5ev3n New Reader

    I watch it on Veoh.com

  • SkinnyG

    Nov. 17, 2009 8:57 p.m. SkinnyG Reader

    http://www.sidereel.com/Top_Gear

  • BoxheadTim

    Nov. 18, 2009 1:12 a.m. BoxheadTim Reader

    Keith wrote: I expect the US DVDs are the US version, and the UK DVDs (assuming they exist) are the UK version. NTSC vs PAL isn't such a big deal if you have a laptop or HDTV :)

    I haven't really seen whole TG seasons DVDs here but then again I never looked for them either. What I did notice is that over here is that you can get 'themed' collections of sorts (like "The Challenges" and stuff like this) and a quick look on Amazon seems to confirm this.

    But yeah, the different region codes (assuming you've got the right kind of software) and PAL vs NTSC problems suddenly disappear if you stick the DVDs into a PC. Unfortunately doesn't work well with a Mac.

  • pinchvalve

    Nov. 18, 2009 8:47 a.m. pinchvalve UltraDork

    IIRC, the British TV system is a little different. Shows are broadcast over the air, but you have to have a TV license in order to watch. Weird I know, but they drive around in vans scanning for illegal, unlicensed sets. So that means to legally watch Top Gear you really have to move to the U.K., become a citizen, and get a TV license. Final Gear probably a better option.

  • BoxheadTim

    Nov. 18, 2009 9:37 a.m. BoxheadTim Reader

    I think you can skip the 'become a citizen' bit, I'm certainly not .

    These days, if you're at an address that doesn't have a TV license, they just send you a threatening letter every five minutes, or so it seems. Joys of private enforcement and all that - I had some very 'interesting' conversations with them during the first few years of living here as I didn't own any means of TV reception back then.

  • SupraWes

    Nov. 19, 2009 4:13 p.m. SupraWes Dork

    Jay wrote:

    The Indonesian DVDs I have are the best versions.

    Any way to get those without going to indonesia?

  • digdug18

    Nov. 23, 2009 1:57 a.m. digdug18 New Reader

    have you tried the torrent sites? its not exactly legal, but so long as you weren't the one who illegally ripped it from the tv or dvd, who cares???

    meaning: mininova.org -my personal favorite thepiratebay.org -they should be on here with everything else in the known world... including the 1983-2005 gm master tech's dvd, 12gig though watch out!

    And if you really need every episode of bbc programming either top gear or any other car show that they have produced, or are a whore for Wheeler Dealers, like I am..

    then check out, thebox.bz you have to join, and seed what you download. and keep a high ratio of downloading to uploading of atleast 50%. but it has EVERY british show that has been produced over the last 50 years.

    Andrew

  • Jay

    Nov. 23, 2009 4:17 a.m. Jay Dork

    SupraWes wrote:

    Jay wrote:

    The Indonesian DVDs I have are the best versions.

    Any way to get those without going to indonesia?

    Heh, they're just the FinalGear rips on DVD. The funny part is someone went to a lot of effort to make a quality product; they're professionally pressed discs with good video encoding and decent menus. I'm hoping they'll have series 11-13 out next time I'm over there.

  • Twin_Cam

    Nov. 24, 2009 8:54 a.m. Twin_Cam Dork

    Nope. Just download the torrents. FinalGear has HD rips now, the picture is incredible.

  • Cone_Junky

    Nov. 24, 2009 4:58 p.m. Cone_Junky New Reader

    In reply to 2.0dohc:

    I gave up my cable months ago, the only regret is that I didn't do it years ago.

    http://www.free-tv-video-online.info/internet/top_gear/

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