From: "Vitas the Fetus" Subject: FW: SAVE SOUTH PARK To: "Vin Casale"
Subject: SAVE SOUTH PARK
This is a petition to keep South Park on the internet. Please read the statement and add your name to the list (before the quoted article from the A.P.). Forward this message to all the people that you know, and also to Comedy Central, so they know we are interested. Their address is [email] or you can write directly to the vice president of the show, Larry Lieberman, at [email] . Check out the list of South Park executives at http://199.170.0.154/southpark/index.shtml and send mail to all of them, if you want. Thank you for your support.
Dear Comedy Central:
We have been informed that you intend to ask South Park Webcasters to stop broadcasting episodes via RealVideo. This creates a very large problem for us. As college students, our cable options are limited and we cannot subscribe to Comedy Central. Therefore, the only way that we are able to enjoy South Park is by watching it over the internet. Although we recognize and understand the importance you place on the medium by which South Park episodes are delivered, we feel it is unfair to prevent such a large viewing audience from watching the show based on issues beyond our control. We agree that providing the episodes on the internet does not conflict with Comedy Central's economic interests, nor does it detract from the show's television viewership, which is why it should be allowed to continue. Moreover, it appears as if webcasting South Park boosts total viewership and builds a more devoted group of fans. From personal experience, we know that the 24 hour availability of South Park through web sites allows us to watch episodes multiple times with many different groups of friends, something we would not be able to do if the show was restricted to the static television medium. It would be unfortunate for all the parties involved if this priveledge was taken away from us.
We understand Comedy Central's concern with South Park web sites that sell ads, but maintain that selling ads is not a way to make money off of Comedy Central's copyrighted material. Instead, the purpose of the ads is to support the continuing costs of maintaining a web presence, NOT to make it an entrepreneurial venture. South Park sites are mostly student-run and purely recreational, the product of a dedicated and enthusiastic viewing audience.
A petition was formed to demonstrate both the numbers of people who are involved in this effort to keep South Park on the internet, and the devotion and loyalty of the web-based fans. Please consider our statement and keep South Park on the air and on the net. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Jacob Vogelstein, [email] Vin Casale, [email] Rafi Pristoop, [email] Josh Schneider, [email] Ben Stein, [email] Joshua Vogelstein, [email] Matt Godfroy, [email]
-- FROM TIME MAGAZINE
"Meanwhile, everyone interested in the intersection of TV and the Net is sitting straighter in his chair. South Park's low production values make it ideal for online distribution. But look down the road a few years when Net connections get faster and RealVideo-type technology improves, and you can see how easy it will be for people to give away everything from CDs to feature-length films. I figured Comedy Central would be thrombosing about this blatant theft of copyrighted material. As usual, I figured wrong.
"We really aren't sure what to do," says Larry Lieberman, a savvy Web user who happens to be the guy at Comedy Central charged with handling this situation. "We do want to protect our property, but we don't want to alienate our fans." Lieberman understands why South Park is ripe for the stealing: its surprise success caught Comedy Central in short supply. Fewer than a dozen episodes have been produced, and they are getting heavily recycled. "With a new episode every week, the itch gets scratched on television," says Lieberman. "But we can't create episodes fast enough." So in a curious way, the Net is helping keep the troops in line. That isn't to say the free lunch will run forever. Indeed, Lieberman says the network already has plans to shut down a few sites--the ones selling ads on their South Park pages. Some people!"
-- A Letter from Scott Gesele Subject: South Park Web Sites
This is a copy of the e-mail that I sent to [email] Gentlemen,
I do not host one of the South Park sites that may be the target of being taken down, I'm just a fan of the show who would be very disappointed by their demise. I believe that you will be doing your fans and yourself a disservice by taking down South Park sites that contain audio and video clips. As I understand it, the success of South Park can be traced to the distribution of the short Christmas episode. Why would anyone in their right mind go after the same vehicle that made South Park such a success in the first place?
The Fox network had their high priced lawyers target unauthorized Simpsons sound sites. I believe that this tactic backfired on them as loyal fans were left feeling like the big corporate giant had squashed the lowly fan in favor of greater profits. How the distribution of these sound (granted, they are copywrited) hurts corporate profits is beyond me.
If you were to find sites that handled South Park images or sounds in a disrespectful manner then, of course, target these sites. The main sites (Taison's, Mr. Hat's Hell Hole, etc) only serve as free advertising for your show are constructed to promote South Park.
Scott Gesele