As much as people would like to think the contrary, piracy is still more than a slight problem in the world of entertainment. Even more so when a film like Avengers: Endgame makes its way to fans all over, who are waiting to see the end of the Infinity Saga that started eleven years ago to this very day.
But because everyone can’t get to the theater at the same time, if at all, pirates make a market of selling these experiences to those who can’t wait. In one particular case involving Marvel Studios’ gigantic record breaker, a pirated copy ended up somewhere rather unexpected. That place being on cable TV in the Philippines.
Cable network Orient Cable was caught by an unsuspecting fan to be running a pirated copy of Avengers: Endgame just a day after the film opened in theaters throughout the Philippines, around the same time that the film’s pirated copies hit the internet. And before you start to think if maybe this surprised viewer was about to experience a pristine copy of the film, without the fuss of a crowd, that is the total opposite of what happened.
The truth is, the copy that was being shown on cable was such a poor version that not only was the sound subpar, with audience reactions being included in the soundtrack, but fans could also be seen walking through the field of vision the camera had in the theater. So take the worst parts of the theater experience, and transplant them to your very home, and that's watching this copy of Endgame was like.
In an interesting twist to this whole story’s course, this channel on Orient Cable has been known to show pirated films previously, with Avengers: Endgame being their most recent victim. And as Coconuts Manila also pointed out, another bootleg was apparently shown in that film’s place.
It’s not surprising that Avengers: Endgame was pirated, but the big shock is that someone would even think it was a smart idea to put it on broadcast TV. Thinking back to how Marvel Studios handled an internal leak over something as small as an Avengers: Age of Ultron trailer, it’s surprising that whomever the culprit behind this act of piracy is, they wouldn’t stop to think that they just might be in for a greater world of trouble than expected.
Of course, legal proceedings according to the legal codes of the Philippines are underway, so there will probably be more developments in this case’s story as those efforts proceed. But this example of pirated material going widespread is, without a question, scary for people who try to avoid spoilers in order to enjoy a movie like Avengers: Endgame, properly blind to the adventure they’re about to take.
Fans around the world, beware, because you might just get caught in the crossfire of unintentional spoilers. And those who are intentionally trying to spoil this film for others, you should be worried too. There are some unintended consequences going around out there for your lot as well.
Avengers: Endgame is in theaters now, for anyone who’s still keen on experiencing films with clear picture and sound. Though if you’ve already gotten your fill and are looking for some new excitement, the 2019 release schedule will help you find that next Long Shot of entertainment you’ve been looking for.
