World-wide hit Game of Thrones, despite being the most pirated show of 2012 is also the top seller in terms of DVD sales, surpassing even HBO's own sales record. With most people downloading their copies of Game of Thrones illegally, how did it help the show connect with more consumers thereby increase its sales? A Youtube video posted by psideachannel presented a very powerful case in favor of piracy and how it is changing the ways television industries do business.

According to 2011 research of Abigail De Kosnick of University of California Berkeley titled "Piracy is the Future of Television", consumers pirate shows from the internet not because it is free but it is the best available means of consuming TV. The study argued that piracy is the most viable TV distribution channel for consumers these days. It allows consumers to easily archive and watch episode whenever they want to. It also gives them access to global contents not available in the local market due to economic restrictions such as shows from India, Japan and South Korea.

While resolution regarding the legality of piracy will remain a matter of debate globally, consumers will continue to illegally download online contents in the absence of properly set and carefully studied reward and punishment systems that will alter this economic behavior. How will it affect the course of movie and television programming in the long run?