Personally I use Expat Shield and BBC iplayer. No way I'm going to wait several months, and no way I'm going to see it in French.

I admit that I need help on how not to wait!!!

Funny you should bring that up, because after the last series, it's been an on/off endeavor to tinker with my situation, because no way do I want to wait so long again…..  ;P  ;P

Basically you've been hearing so many comments as to such, because even in today's age of techy media consumption, there's still a stubborn grip with when/where their creative product is released (heck, not to complain about my favorite british stuff… I know it's similar vice versa for 'our' stuff getting to other countries!).  Understandable, to an extent.  I don't advocate piracy myself (even though I agree all the streaming/download sites put up for just that purpose are convenient), and the creators still need to make a livelihood and encourage to make more.  But it makes it kinda hard when I'm not allowed to watch stuff on bbc's site, and the networks here don't carry it until months later (although they said they were working on it).

So some people use various other websites, as mentioned (I'm unfamiliar with how fast iTunes/others get it).  Or, sure, there's the dvds.  Which unfairly also seem to have no waiting period for you guys, noticed last time they were released shortly after the eps finished, while we still have to wait until after it actually gets a chance to air on tv first.  And no, I couldn't just get the British dvds last year instead of waiting, as country dvd/blu-ray 'regions' on discs/players were created specifically for that reason to keep a certain amount of control with release dates (again, 'grr' at the companies).  Of course, now plenty of people get a region-free player (because no, most of them are Not, although someone recently told me most external dvd drives are), depending on their interest in playing other country region discs, and being aware of it.   Which is what I started looking into, actually, so I can just grab my own copy from amazon uk when the time comes, and have a player that will work with it.   So, heh… yeah, I suppose I'm kind of 'tweaking' things in a way myself, to get my hands on my favorite content.  ;D  But if I was gonna buy it anyway, might as well get the british copy and do whatever it takes to get to watch it!  ;D

(and apologies for throwing out such a wordy response!  I know this has been bantered here and there in other threads already as the subject of spoilers and access comes up with the approach of another series (so for the many for whom this is old knowledge, hopefully just skipped over), but also figured at least you and veecee and others are still wondering about, as evident from threads about it, so maybe helpful hearing what others do)

Need to ask a clarifying question.  Commercially produced, USA-compatible DVDs (with extras and all) will NOT be available to purchase until after Series 3 has aired in the USA, right?

I totally want to (and do) support PBS, but I will find it really hard to wait for Season 3. Of course, our wait actually isn't any longer than the UK's, since we got Season 3 more recently.

Russell -- maybe we should meet in Toldedo and figure out how to watch it!

beekeeper wrote:

can you not get multi region dvd players over there? Here they are pretty much standard. Also, region encoded dvd players can often be unlocked to region free-that's what we did. I don't think that's illegal.

 

 
Yes, of course!  I mention that in my post...  I was just saying that the 'typical' ones you find in the store are not.  I've been having to look for one on Amazon.  But more expensive.... after finding out about external dvd drives typically being region-free (fingers crossed), to not have to pay a lot, or have to fiddle with unlocking anything, probably will go that route.

veecee wrote:

I totally want to (and do) support PBS

Bless you, my child.