CBS’s block on Time Warner Cable (TWC) customers is less than a week old and already the blackout is fuelling a rise in TV show piracy. TorrentFreak reports that the percentage of illegal downloads rose substantially in the week since it went dark, as piracy rates for popular CBS show Under The Dome increased by 34 percent over the course of one weekend. As downloads went up, the show unsurprisingly saw its lowest viewing figures this season. Piracy continues to be a major thorn in the side of rights-holders as internet users take to Bittorrent and other file-sharing services to download TV shows immediately after they have aired. The study comes after CBS and TWC failed to reach an agreement on retransmission fees that allow the cable operator to carry CBS programming. Both cable and online broadcasts were blocked, leading viewers to seek alternative means to watch their favorite TV shows.