Australia's television broadcasters have a real knack for airing overseas shows much later than the original release date, and these old habits die hard.
Free-to-air broadcaster Channel Ten, who has the local rights to The X-Files, has opted to begin airing Season 10 on Jan. 31. That's roughly a week after its U.S. premiere.
It's little wonder that Aussies love to pirate. According to a 2015 government survey, an estimated one-quarter of Australian Internet users older than 12 consumed illegally downloaded content in the first three months of 2015. This trend looks set to continue.
Channel Ten has a good record of fast-tracking popular shows, airing series such as Homeland and Under The Dome just hours after the U.S. screening. Somehow, the much-anticipated reboot of The X-Files as a six-episode miniseries didn't make the cut, raising the ire of local fans.
Thanks Channel 10 for screwing Australian X Files audiences over.— Alisa Krasnostein (@Krasnostein) January 26, 2016
Quite astounded that Ten is holding X-Files until Sunday.— Archangel Gabriel (@gabrielwilder) January 25, 2016
That's adorable. @channelten is furiously plugging the X-Files while the majority of people are downloading and watching it.— Andy Thompson (@SweatyJester) January 25, 2016
Channel Ten staffer waiting by the docks for the reels containing the latest X Files episode to arrive on a steam ship.— Grant Williamson (@ozjimbob) January 25, 2016
The Australian ratings period begins on Feb. 7, so it could be seen as an attempt by the broadcaster to delay The X-Files for when the ratings actually count. Or, perhaps the decision was based on disappointing reviews of the first episode of the series.
"Every program is considered on merit in regard to fast-tracking," a Network Ten spokesperson told Mashable Australia via email. "We have decided to launch the new version of The X-Files as part of our super Sunday of programming on Sunday, Jan. 31, less than a week after it debuts in the US.
"We are confident that viewers will enjoy this highly anticipated series, free and legally."
Whatever the truth may be, Australia television audiences have been left hanging once again, with viewers no doubt resorting to less than legal methods to get their fix. A week is a long time to avoid spoilers.
We will just leave this here.