HBO, Hackers and “Hard Knocks”
August 4th, 2017
For those that like to navigate the deep, dark recesses of the internet, this story is for you.
Apparently, HBO is a victim of hackers who claim they’ve obtained all sorts of broadcast content that has yet to be aired. For some reason not quite clear, the hackers, per Variety.com, plan to release the unaired HBO content in stages possibly beginning this Sunday.
What does any of this have to do with the Bucs? Well, in case you just returned from a cave in Afghanistan, the Bucs will be featured on “Hard Knocks” this summer beginning Aug. 8. The show, an NFL Films-produced reality series, just happens to be broadcast on HBO.
Now Joe seems to recall, but can’t remember the specifics, hearing an interview a few years ago with the late Steve Sabol, one of the long-time executives of NFL Films and son of founder Ed Sabol (who eye-RAH! got into Canton). Steve Sabol said the production of “Hard Knocks” sometimes goes right up until a handful of hours before airing. So if that is the case, HBO likely won’t have a “Hard Knocks” finished episode on Sunday.
But Joe guesses NFL Films/HBO has plenty of raw footage, hundreds of hours.
The hackers claim they will release content on a weekly basis. But, they aren’t chained to any sort of deadline.
Joe can only find so many rabbit’s feet in an effort to motivate these cyber-vandals to upload whatever “Hard Knocks” footage they have. “Ballers,” too!
(When Joe signs up for HBO next week in order to get “Hard Knocks,” Joe plans on binge-watching “Ballers” during the short window Joe will have HBO. Watching the rest of Season 2 of “Last Chance U” can wait — is Joe the only weirdo that thinks team academic counselor Brittany Wagner is sorta, kinda cute in a haunting way?)
August 4th, 2017 at 12:51 am
Allegedly they hacked episodes of got. I could see ballers being leaked but HK prob gets edited on Monday prior to the show.
August 4th, 2017 at 1:15 am
thanks to my firestick… i binge watched every episode of ballers last week just in time for the new season… awesome show! *running to see if Bucs footage is there yet LOL
August 4th, 2017 at 1:20 am
Not liking the sound of this. If hackers reportedly got to raw footage, what is the likelihood other NFL Teams will get access to Bucs plays? Granted I know the coaches don’t reveal all on Hard Knocks, but I do remember seeing white boards and other sensitive team information being blurred out on Hard Knocks last year. This is a little concerning, is it not?
August 4th, 2017 at 1:52 am
Was thinking the same thing Wright in Montana. I remember watching those same blurred out images. Can’t imagine how if raw footage from players meetings with coaches breaking down plays & assignments gets broadcast to the world, that wouldn’t suddenly make Hard Knocks become a very real “distraction.” Not like any member of the Buc’s management or coaching staff would even hint that anything too “sensitive” got out there, but common sense leads me to believe otherwise.
August 4th, 2017 at 2:37 am
Ballers is one of the worst tv shows i’ve ever seen. With that said, I cannot stop watching it and look forward to the 2nd bad season
August 4th, 2017 at 3:05 am
Got belicheat written all over it. #HBOGate
August 4th, 2017 at 6:09 am
that’s right AAS!!!!
Billycheat will be making some hacker rich during the playoffs.
Bucs vs NE at the Super Bowl!
August 4th, 2017 at 7:39 am
@joe
No, you are not the only one, she is pretty damn cute. That school will miss her.
August 4th, 2017 at 7:58 am
Brittany is hot, waiting for scandal to come out about her and a player, the hackers are full of spit, why not realease GOT now? Ozark is the show joe
August 4th, 2017 at 8:15 am
I really hope they don’t have raw footage that gets into the hands of hackers! There is not a team in the NFL that that would go well for
August 4th, 2017 at 8:16 am
Yeah, I don’t think raw Hard Knocks footage is high on the hackers list. I’m sure they were looking for unreleased Game of Thrones material and even episodes. Hackers are geeks after all.
August 4th, 2017 at 8:27 am
Nice stereotyping there bud^. Today’s hackers are smart, and know how to make money. (hence ransomware, spyware, malware, etc…). If you think for a second they’re aren’t thinking about how to make money off these hacks, you’re way past left field.
August 4th, 2017 at 8:45 am
Just found out that Hard Knocks is not on HBO Canada 🙁 …any suggestions how I can get this another way?
August 4th, 2017 at 8:55 am
You are getting HBO and the first show on your list to watch is Ballers? Thats a violation Joe
August 4th, 2017 at 9:29 am
@ Wright in Montana
“Today’s hackers are smart, and know how to make money. (hence ransomware, spyware, malware, etc…).”
I never said hackers weren’t any of that and it still doesn’t mean they are not geeks or were not at one point in their lives. If they weren’t they would have been playing sports in high school or out partying with the popular kids instead of sitting at home in front of their computer coding. Just reality Wright.
August 4th, 2017 at 9:53 am
Even if hackers release it I would not watch it simply because it’s raw, unproduced content. Content like Ali Marpet talking about his cat or Kwon complaining about having a bad hair day.
August 4th, 2017 at 10:43 am
We only have 4 days until it airs on HBO. I can wait.
Maybe…
August 4th, 2017 at 11:19 am
Worked on HK in a big capacity multiple times. Episodes are being locked at the last possible moment where there is still enough time for QC, legal, etc to quickly watch it down.
They’ll be finishing it until at minimum, the early/mid-afternoon on Tuesday.
August 4th, 2017 at 11:24 am
You should watch Silicon Valley. Not football but it’s a 30 min show and it’s hilarious esp the first two seasons
August 4th, 2017 at 11:39 am
Miko
Try hbo go.
August 4th, 2017 at 2:01 pm
Lol pabucsfan.
I watch Ballers, but the show has gotten worse and worse and is only just starting season 3. It already reminds me of how bad entourage got by season 5 or so.