Is it illegal to download tv shows that are on public tv?

My thoughts:
It is legal to tape something via VCR, and watch it with some friends. Or just watch it later.

Or get a tape from a friend of a missed show. So essentially, isn't downloading a tv show you missed similiar. Long as you aren't selling it for money?

That's exactly as how I think of it.

thats how i think of it, but in reality (US laws) it is illegal. A VCR has a much less quality than DV that you could download off the internet and producers don't want high quality copies of their shit being passed around.

has it stopped me? no, but thats what i found out doing my term paper for last year on copyright/fair use laws

the quality of the tv doesn't change. the media in which is it recorded does.

Personally I can't be bothered downloading tv shows as I hardly even watch regular tv. I do undersand up to a point why rebroadcasting could be illegal, but taping a rebroadcasted show should be not. It makes no sense at all. Sounds to me like a money grabbing opportunity.

really its illegal to even tape a show, and keep it on the tape for later use,.. it is however legal to tape it and watch it and then tape over it again,. weird huh?,. i think its total bullshit, i download tv shows,. big whoopdy doo,.

Any safe sites to download TV shows from?

Downloading TV shows in itself is not illegal once they've been broadcasted.
However, offering them for download is as it supposebly hurts international sales of that program. Indeed, what's the point in selling, say 24 season 4 to international markets when everyone, such as myself, has been downloading each and every episode on a weekly basis?

Well I download it because it wouldn't show here in France. Not a single TV station bought it...