Well I must say that our first late night drive was very disapointing. Moments before the drive began at 22h00 CAT a few sad people decided to see if they could ‘hack’ into our live repeater. Now our live repeater in Pretoria, South Africa, is where the Flash stream is collected from Djuma and where Zaplive grabs the stream and then serves it out to you from Holland. Well the minute more than 10 streams are ‘grabbed’ from this repeater it shuts out everyone else. It does this because it was never designed to serve the public, but merely provide us with a way of distributing the stream.
So in effect because a few people so badly wanted to avoid the advertising, that is there to make our broadcasting viable, they prevented everyone else from watching our first late night drive. This is one of the most selfish things I have seen done. I would like to let those people know that it takes a massive amount of effort to do what WE do, not to mention expense. WE do this because we love it and really believe that it is worth doing for the benefit of all. Your selfishness has no place in our WildEarth.
It took us hours until early in the morning to figure out what had happened … I hope you few people really enjoyed your ad free night drive!
Tonight WE will try again. WE have made every effort to put the necessary security in place, but to be honest this is a bit of an Achilles heal in our system. It can be permanently resolved, but it will create a huge amount of work and may result in a fragmented archive … another great consequence of the selfishness, ignorance and frankly rudeness of a few.
I completley understand that few, if any, people like advertsing in their viewing. WE have gone to some effort to keep this advertising to a minimum. WE have not covered our pages with tons and tons of garish ads. WE have to put it in-stream because otherwise WE are not motivated to make good content, just create good marketing (this involves a much bigger explanation, but take it from me in-stream is the way). I don’t, however, think that one has to be a genius to realise that running a broadcast like WildEarth from the middle of the African wilderness and delivering it to a global audience is very very expensive. And if WE all want it to continue it will need to be made viable. And the only way to make it viable, and still FREE, is to include advertising. Now I don’t expect you to love the advertising, but I don’t think it is too much to ask that you put up with it (hell you might even click the odd ad if you are interested in the product) in return for the immense effort it takes to bring you the only content of its type on earth. The only truly real nature programming in the world!
I am sorry about this rant, but I am very very upset when fellow humans behave in such a selfish way … it is just not in our nature … and if it is, it is certainly not in the nature of those that are part of the WEfamily.
I would like to think it was a genuine mistake and that they had no idea of the consequence of their actions, but really, the ads in no way curtail our viewing…you just click the little x in the top right hand corner and its gone…simple! I have no problem with them at all, especially when they pay for us to enjoy all that you bring. You do a wonderful job and i cannot even picture a day when i could no longer watch. Hopefully this problem will never arise again…if it does then i would say it was deliberate. Thanks to you all for the hard work and wonders you share with us.
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First let me say that I had no role in the circumvention of the stream. I would not attempt to do so even if I know how. That said, in defense of the circumventers, I doubt that they realized that their actions would crash the server and ruin the drive for everyone. Is it a bit selfish to avoid the advertising? Yes, admittedly. I doubt many of us like the advertising, but many of us view it as a necessary aspect of continuing to view the streams for free (some, including myself, would likely prefer a pay model without the advertising, but that’s beside the point). I guess my point is just that while the actions of those who hacked the streams might have been a bit selfish, it does not sound as if they were a malicious attempt to ruin the drive for everyone. I know the server issues were extremely frustrating for the viewers and even more frustrating for those on the production end at Djuma, but I still don’t know if we should villainize them for what might have just been an honest mistake.
OMG I had no idea….I had tried my feed and it kept saying it was unavailable. I honestly had thought it was another power surge or something at the lodge.
What childish behavior! I can’t believe someone would do that! It certainly isn’t what WE are all about. I think the individuals who did this should be very ashamed of their selfishness.
Graham, I am so sorry that they did this. You and the whole crew work so hard every day to bring the stream to us, to try these new projects and show ideas out. Only to have a few unappreciative few to ruin things for everyone.
enI’m not a fan of the ads, but I can live with them if that’s what it takes to get to view your broadcasts. It is a shame that a few rude people have to screw it up for the majority of us.
Well said, Graham!
Well said! I too am highly disappointed that someone in the WEviewing family would stoop so low.
I certainly hope this doesn’t occur again.
WE appreciate all that you do….it’s in our nature.
I am so sorry to hear that this happened. I can’t begin to imagine the time, effort and work that goes into WildEarth, the drives, and conservation efforts. You all work so hard and WE sitting on this end do truly appreciate and love everyone there, so this is especially disheartening. Let’s hope it’s the last time something like this happens.
Why don't you take a real poll from viewers on whether we would prefer ads on the viewer page versus those really annoying drive spoiling pop ups that you started? A real poll where you can vote privately & not have to be a member of WE? I have watched from the very first drive, but will stop watching if the ads really start popping up every 90 seconds. That is ridiculous, distracting, annoying & SO not worth it just to watch the drives. Do what they do at Pete's Pond and run an ad at the start and have ads on the viewer page. Let US make the choice whether we want to look at an ad. I would be more inclined to click on an ad on the page to support WE than to click on the pop up ads.
I,too, am sorry, as I really look forward to the drives. It’s really too bad that some folks are so inconsiderate. I’m sorry, Graham, that a few selfish people caused you all so much work.
Sharon in Texas
Very well said ! I am sad that the whole WE crew had to deal with that hassle. I know that I can speak for alot of the WE viewers when I say… You all have brought us such joy & happiness. Whenever something happens ….I know that you all are on top of it
( amazingly quick )!
Thank You !
What a shame… I can’t abide people who have such a sense of entitlement they disregard the most basic of courtesies. Do Not Take What Does Not Belong To You!
stupid humans. no wonder you enjoy the wild animals.. so sorry to hear this.! please know people really do enjoy all the hard work you do.. Thank you for all the things you have to put up with to do your great work!!