Unaired Prison Break Finale a Hit On BitTorrent

Written by Ernesto on June 03, 2009 

Two weeks ago, Prison Break season 4 ended in the US, and many fans were left in the dark about what happened to Scofield. Even though episode 23 and 24 of Prison Break never aired on US television they are available on BitTorrent, and that didn’t go unnoticed to the millions of of dedicated followers of the show.

24Every week we take a look at the most downloaded TV-Shows on BitTorrent. This off-season week is an unusual one, as the final two episodes of Prison Break that never aired on US television were downloaded by nearly 2 million people.

Unlike the regular episodes these last two were never aired by Fox on US television, this also shows in the download statistics. Up to 25 percent of the downloads came from the US compared to little over 5 percent for the other episodes that did air on television.

Episode 23 and 24 of the fourth Prison Break season are available on BitTorrent because some non-US networks did decide to air them. ‘Prison Break: The Final Break’, as the final two episodes are called, is scheduled for a (ca-ching) DVD release in the US on July 21.

The data for the most downloaded TV episodes of this week are listed below. The data are collected by TorrentFreak from a representative sample of BitTorrent sites and is for informational and educational reference only.

Most Downloads (recent episodes)

May 25 – May 31
ranking (prev) show est. downloads
torrentfreak.com
1 (…) Prison Break: The Final Break 1,930,000
2 (8) Breaking Bad 380,000
3 (…) Reaper 365,000
4 (…) Medium 360,000
5 (…) Mythbusters 340,000
6 (…) Mental 310,000
7 (…) Greek 300,000
8 (7) Legend of the Seeker 290,000
9 (…) The Tudors 270,000
10 (9) Primeval 260,000

Previously: Political Leader Threatens Court Action Over P2P “3 Strikes”

Next: European Greens Want to Legalize File-Sharing

58 Responses

1 Jun 04, 2009 at 00:34 by BustaLinx

Not surprising at all tbh, no idea why America chose not to air them.

2 Jun 04, 2009 at 00:40 by Anonymous

DVD Sales is why

3 Jun 04, 2009 at 01:05 by www.eZee.se

LOL!
Someones gonna be pissed for sure!

When will they learn?

4 Jun 04, 2009 at 01:09 by Dellum

@2

yep, they don’t even dissimulate.

5 Jun 04, 2009 at 01:11 by CasualT

Well they should have figured this would happen. Don’t they understand human nature?

6 Jun 04, 2009 at 01:21 by Anonymous

Fox is down in the ratings… so they try to sucker punch their loyal fanbase? I think Murdoch needs to take a good look in the mirror.

7 Jun 04, 2009 at 01:22 by Emil

#5

Sure they do. Especially one trait: Greed.

8 Jun 04, 2009 at 01:31 by Rodent

Mouse Trap
http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=4927624&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1

9 Jun 04, 2009 at 01:57 by Anonymous

who is to say they did not release this themselves maybe they are looking into the internet as a way of getting higher ratings its fairly possible that they might have started to think along the lines of if you cant beat them join them and this would have been a perfect way to test it un announced “leak” on a popular tv show

10 Jun 04, 2009 at 02:04 by OKMR

typo : The data are collected ?!?!WTFBBQ?

11 Jun 04, 2009 at 02:07 by Jam

@1 American networks want to milk you for your last cent.

12 Jun 04, 2009 at 02:49 by HWG

@10

CRY SOME MORE!

13 Jun 04, 2009 at 03:14 by Gordon

@10: Data is both singular and plural in modern language. The word datum (”official” English plural for data) is rarely used.

14 Jun 04, 2009 at 03:42 by neostyles

TPB is not at all what they sell themselves as. They claim that they are selflessly doing what they do. Like they are rebels standing against an evil corporate empire.

In 2006, when they were raided, an investigation revealed massive amounts of email correspondance. Contained within them was proof of dozens of advertising deals, off shore accounts and trust funds, and more.

The pirate bay make millions off of what they do. They are nothing more than digital crooks and they have been fooling their uses for year, by romantisizing theft.

15 Jun 04, 2009 at 04:15 by him

@14

you talk like they reached into your pocket and grabbed your money !!!

1)they are paying for the whole deal
2)they get heat from every one
3)you get their services for free

and you still complain?

please, go F**K yourself

16 Jun 04, 2009 at 04:29 by Lost

@10

Really? Do we have to go over there again?

17 Jun 04, 2009 at 04:30 by in3rtia

I watched both of the episodes on Fox HD in California. They are on my DVR still. Does the fact that I have FiOS matter in this situation?

18 Jun 04, 2009 at 04:36 by in3rtia

Scratch previous post. I assumed that the ending was supposed to be implied and didn’t realize that there were episodes explaining it. Doh. Guess I need to read better. Downloading now. :]

19 Jun 04, 2009 at 04:49 by Nicolas Sarkozy

I should download this for Carla… <3

20 Jun 04, 2009 at 05:02 by dairRIAA

I’ve never even heard of the show until now.

Perhaps that was the point of leaking it. ;)

21 Jun 04, 2009 at 05:22 by gregf

These aired on dish network, got them both on my dvr.

22 Jun 04, 2009 at 06:04 by rocket person

#14 its not stealing [for the thousandth time] and if you dont like it then you dont have to be here. go troll’ somewhere else.its not anyone elses fault but their own that they attempted to scam their viewers.

23 Jun 04, 2009 at 06:18 by Gargamel

I dont even watch tv but i’m glad they got fuked over.

24 Jun 04, 2009 at 06:19 by Gargamel

I mean by the leaks onto the net not the producers of the DVD.

25 Jun 04, 2009 at 06:40 by Stupid

@14 Ah, you OK man?
Are you new to bit torrent.
BTW what does that have to do with the post.

26 Jun 04, 2009 at 07:22 by Up the Pirates

Well Leaking worked for the X-Mens film.

Guess Fox want’s a go

27 Jun 04, 2009 at 07:25 by heh

You just know they’re going to claim piracy cost them (dvd price)*(# downloads) in revenue.

Really though what they’re losing is the revenue from ad slots in series finale?

It’s nice that they’ll claim pirates cost them money and not their own stupid decision though. I’d be kind of pissed at them if they did that to a show I actually watch… like… um… if I’m bored I’ll watch their Sunday cartoons…

28 Jun 04, 2009 at 08:17 by Nokio

jeebus! 2mil! niiiiice…

29 Jun 04, 2009 at 08:22 by Random person

I didn’t know there were extra episodes till this post… what a bunch of bastards. I hope the station loses money. Not the actors but just the bastards that orchestrated the whole thing. They deserve what they get. I’m guessing these two episodes will explain how the main guy ended up like he did. Either way I’m still hating the writers or whoever made the decision to do what they did to him. ;DD Massive hate for everyone ;D

Lol @ Post 14. I love how he mentioned something irrelevant. Those bastards should be shot ;D

30 Jun 04, 2009 at 08:31 by ahahaha

Epic Phail Fox.

Your greed got the better of ya! For this little stunt you deserve every “lost sale” you get.

This is the 21st Century, embrace Technology or die like the dinosaurs.

31 Jun 04, 2009 at 08:55 by a/s/l

wow i hate prison break, but what 20cf did was proper gay.

make sure you supply everyone who watches prison break with a nice pirate copy of the last 2 shows.

32 Jun 04, 2009 at 09:20 by manky goes to bollywood

cool story bro :)

33 Jun 04, 2009 at 09:33 by wonderwhy-er

Hah… Funny how their greed sprung tv show piracy 20% up… That’s kind of shows why piracy rates are so high in first place… Time differences between tv show initial airs in USA and then other countries make piracy good alternative to waiting till local cable will start airing it… Morale of this story is “Change your business models according to modern needs or they will change with out you”.

34 Jun 04, 2009 at 09:35 by Anon

Like I keep saying Breaking Bad > *

However I applaud the Prison Break finale for covering all the bases and wrapping up the show.

Now please release breaking bad onto DVD and Blu-Ray so I can buy this awesome series.

35 Jun 04, 2009 at 10:07 by Anuttka

???? ? ?? ???????????!

36 Jun 04, 2009 at 10:17 by Whatever

@14 : Kopimying is not stealing. And even though, stealing would be better then being an autodaffe-nazi like you.

37 Jun 04, 2009 at 11:31 by phishybongwaters

@Anonymous#9,

You are obviously mentally disabled. Did those eps on bittorrent have commercials?

Commercials are the SOLE reason anything is on tv, it’s called ad revenue, and it’s WHY there are tv networks. They don’t make shows to entertain you, they don’t make shows for their “loyal” fans, they make shows to get you to watch crappy commercials, then 50% of you mindless zombies go out and buy the crap they were advertising.

There is no way in hell a network would release the finale of a show, on bittorrent, without commercials, on purpose.

38 Jun 04, 2009 at 11:44 by puser

“You just know they’re going to claim piracy cost them (dvd price)*(# downloads) in revenue.” by #27

agree! damn bastards should die

39 Jun 04, 2009 at 13:18 by Xorinch9

Haha, this is gonna be another exmaple for Copyright people to use in their cases of lost profits….

40 Jun 04, 2009 at 14:09 by UiO

Mythbusters? Omg that show is absolutely retarded.. both of those f*cking morons couldn’t make a real experiment to save there lives..

41 Jun 04, 2009 at 16:03 by c0rr0sive

This goes to show, that not all Americans are afraid of the movie industry… The same thing will happen in any situation of this nature.

42 Jun 04, 2009 at 17:52 by Hmmm

they air for me!
and I live in the US.
you guys need to get your facts strait

43 Jun 04, 2009 at 18:08 by neostyles

@15 : What are you talking about? No, they didn’t steal from me, but stealing has many forums. They are however stealing from Hollywood, the music industry, and the game industry.

1) No, they aren’t. If they were actually a legit service like Itunes where everyone pays for things, there would be no controversy, einstein. The costs that they pay for the servers are trivial up against the profits that they incur.

2) That’s to be expected, but that somehow justifies all the money that they make off of giving away other people’s work?

3) I know, sherlock. That’s the whole reason why what they are doing is illegal. Because you don’t pay for anything.

@22 : Yeah, it is. You are taking something which is someone else’s without paying for it. Stealing comes in many forms. It’s not limited to physical. The “new information age” has created a culture of digital theft.

@40 : Piracy causes billions of dollars in losses. Make no mistake about it. Not caring abou† anything except your own happiness, causes incalculable damages.

44 Jun 04, 2009 at 18:22 by Rabbit80

@44
“Yeah, it is. You are taking something which is someone else’s without paying for it. Stealing comes in many forms. It’s not limited to physical. The “new information age” has created a culture of digital theft.”

No it isn’t – you are NOT TAKING anything!

45 Jun 04, 2009 at 18:51 by Jenny

whatever!—i always by the dvd b/c i love the show first of all and second…throughout the season i always miss episodes so I like to have them all

http://www.talenttrove.com

46 Jun 04, 2009 at 19:27 by Shuteye BSG75

What is everyone talking about? FOX aired it and I watched it on TV.

47 Jun 04, 2009 at 19:48 by jenny

@47 beside the series finale (where Michael’s grave was visited 4 years later) there are additional 2 episodes depicting the time between Michael & Sara walked on the beach, to their wedding, Sara’s arrest and imprisonment and until Michael died (and HOW he died).

48 Jun 04, 2009 at 20:16 by Anonymous

Watch all of season 4 but not these two episodes, looking forward to watching them.

49 Jun 04, 2009 at 21:47 by I hate Fox

Hahaha..Stupid Fox network jumped the shark, didnt re-new a show that still had legs and quite right if it wasn’t for you guys on the net loyal fans would be left hanging, slapping the loyalty of the fans in the face with the ending and not showing it in the US. I am not suprised Prison Break has had the huge amount of hits on the net, two fingers up to the twats who pull the strings and made a wrong decision again.

50 Jun 04, 2009 at 23:20 by Pathetisad

They aired, on Sky1 and Sky1 HD in the UK

51 Jun 05, 2009 at 07:53 by neostyles

“No it isn’t – you are NOT TAKING anything!”
You keep telling yourself that, bud. You are downloading it, which is taking it.

52 Jun 05, 2009 at 10:26 by Snakekilla

I don’t get it, release it on DVD in the US, but free to watch on TV in the UK? Stupid..? That’s asking for piracy. Especially if UK gets it way before the US. Why not just send the bonus episodes with the full season instead of only having 2 episodes on a DVD.. It would be the worst selling DVD if they only have 2 episodes, weather wait for the full season which includes the 2 bonus episodes.

53 Jun 05, 2009 at 11:45 by TUSK

#13

other way round dude.

54 Jun 05, 2009 at 15:21 by Rabbit80

@51 – neostyles

“You keep telling yourself that, bud. You are downloading it, which is taking it.”

—–

No – taking something is to remove it – copying something is therefore NOT taking it – it is taking A COPY of it!!! Subtly different, but a huge difference never the less!

For example, if I take a photograph of you – the photograph is a copy of what I can see – I have not stolen or taken anything in the picture! – Any items in the picture are STILL THERE!

55 Jun 05, 2009 at 15:22 by Don

BS like this is what got me started downloading tv shows in the first place. First tv show downloaded from a newsgroup? Buffy the Vampire Slayer season finale for the season ending with destroying the highschool. It was shown in Canada, but pulled because of Columbine. It wouldn’t show in the U.S for another 6-9 months, but I had my tvrip that I shared with every fan I knew.

56 Jun 05, 2009 at 18:33 by Mr Innocent

Not that it’s important but we in the uk also got the finale of Sanctuary and pushing daisies before the us too…which is pretty rare but the problem is that although they were prime time in America and also good shows the tv stations over here put them on after 10 pm and would much rather cater for ten year olds with Simon Cowel plc ;) instead.

57 Jun 07, 2009 at 09:03 by Bagwell

Damn I didn’t know about this. Thx for the great info.

———–
Bagwell.
http://certcollection.org

58 Jun 08, 2009 at 11:56 by PlentyofTorrents.com

Serves Fox right for dragging out the air dates of these shows. I had to wait WAY too long to get my fix of Prison Break. >:(

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