BitTorrent is a peer-to-peer file sharing (P2P) communications protocol. BitTorrent is a method of distributing large amounts of data widely without the original distributor incurring the entire costs of hardware, hosting and bandwidth resources. Instead, when data is distributed using the BitTorrent protocol, each recipient supplies pieces of the data to newer recipients, reducing the cost and burden on any given individual source, providing redundancy against system problems, and reducing dependence on the original distributor. — Wikipedia

Torrentfreak reports that “TV-shows are by far the most popular files on BitTorrent sites. On Mininova alone, some episodes are downloaded more than 2 million times. Movies are a good second, with over 500.000 downloads for the most popular titles.”

The data used for these lists is retrieved from Mininova and considered to be a representative sample.

Movies & number of downloads in 2007:

1. Transformers (569,259)
2. Knocked Up (509,314)
3. Shooter (399,960)
4. Pirates Of The.Caribbean At World’s End (379,749)
5. Ratatouille (359,904)
6. 300 (358,226)
7. Next (354,044)
8. Hot Fuzz (352,905)
9. The Bourne Ultimatum (336,326)
10. Zodiac (334,699)

TV-Shows & number of downloads in 2007:

1. Heroes (2,439,154)
2. Top Gear (1,217,923)
3. Battlestar Galactica (706,209)
4. Lost (705,724)
5. Prison Break (608,487)
6. Desperate Housewives (457,805)
7. 24 (524,303)
8. Family Guy (522,839)
9. Dexter (435,670)
10. Scrubs (427,420)

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