Netflix VPN Crackdown - Aims for a united Global Service

[WYP]

Netflix has started to crackdown on the use of VPNs to access geo-restricted content, but the company aims to create a united Global Service which will make VPN piracy obsolete.

Read more on Netflix's crack down on VPN Piracy.

 

[jimma47]

Here in Australia at least the Cable (nothing like the US Model) and Free to air networks raced to sign up multi-year exclusivity deals before Netflix et al arrived. This is one of the reasons that Netflix AU has bugger all content compared to other markets, hence the reason we VPN or pirate.

EG here to legally watch Game of Thrones I need a cable subscription which is minimum $50 per month on a 1 year contract + I have to pay another $20 or so to get the 'drama' pack which has HBO on it. $70 per month for one show that airs 10 episodes? No thanks.

Netflix will have to pay out big money to get the broadcast rights holders to hand back the licence. It's all about revenue.

I just wonder how they'll block VPNs when I thought the whole idea of them was that you couldn't tell where the end user was? Or are they looking at being able to trace the whole route? Interesting.

 

[Kushiro]

Such genius. Take content away from Customers for no good reason.

Seriously though, are they losing anything for paying customers using a VPN to get what they paid for?

 

[sheroo]

I'm surprised its not violating your basic human rights not to be able to watch Game of Thrones.

 

[jimma47]

I'm surprised its not violating your basic human rights not to be able to watch Game of Thrones.

If there are spoilers it would be! Torture. LOL

 

[Feronix]

I'm surprised its not violating your basic human rights not to be able to watch Game of Thrones.

Isn't that an HBO title anyway? Very much doubt HBO would allow it to be on Netflix.


The reason Netflix has restricted content has undoubtedly to do with copyright issues and regional laws and such. Besides, I don't think Netflix want to release a show or film in the Netherlands if it doesn't have Dutch subtitles, for instance.

Why Netflix themselves care about people using VPNs though, I do not understand. Authorities can hardly blame them for 'piracy' when an end user decided to watch shows with a VPN that their local subscription doesn't allow (although The Pirate Bay also gets in a lot of trouble regularly while the site itself doesn't host any illegal content). Which brings me to the question; Why would I pay the same amount of money for Netflix as an American, when I only get 30% of the content?

 

[jimma47]

Yeah it's HBO but it's an appropriate example for why VPNs are used. The content is just not available locally even if we want to pay. It's primarily due to licencing to the TV and Cable networks as opposed to regional laws.

The AU Netflix content is all English so that's not an issue but it's a very small library compared to the US.

Your question is valid and it's the reason I don't have a Netflix subscription.

I could also ask why they still have DVD/Bluray region encoding? To make money.

 

[barnsley]

Using a VPN on a paid netflix isn't really piracy IMO. If there is an issue about regional pricing etc surely the easiest option would be to create a "global pass"?

We've still got a way to go before piracy gets greatly reduced again.

 

[jimma47]

I don't see it as piracy either.

I would say the pressure is actually coming from the countries they're expanding into.
Take Aus for example - The TV/Cable networks say to the govt look at all the taxes/employment we create plus the advertising revenue we could lose. The networks are owned by the people that own the government - Packer & Murdoch so Newscorp and Fox.

The government then says to Netflix we'll allow this or that but you need to show you're taking a stand on piracy and all these people that are getting around the geo blocking that the other networks were counting on to lock in their content and protect their revenue.

Pure conjecture on my part but it makes sense.

 

[AlienALX]

Here in Australia at least the Cable (nothing like the US Model) and Free to air networks raced to sign up multi-year exclusivity deals before Netflix et al arrived. This is one of the reasons that Netflix AU has bugger all content compared to other markets, hence the reason we VPN or pirate.

EG here to legally watch Game of Thrones I need a cable subscription which is minimum $50 per month on a 1 year contract + I have to pay another $20 or so to get the 'drama' pack which has HBO on it. $70 per month for one show that airs 10 episodes? No thanks.

Netflix will have to pay out big money to get the broadcast rights holders to hand back the licence. It's all about revenue.

I just wonder how they'll block VPNs when I thought the whole idea of them was that you couldn't tell where the end user was? Or are they looking at being able to trace the whole route? Interesting.

It's just as bad over here for sports fella. Football, heck, even darts have been shared out among the cable/satellite companies and you pay a king's ransom to watch them. I pay £32 a month for Sky Sports and they show three or four games per week out of about 20. The only way to get all of the sports is to go cable TV, satellite or BT TV and pay about the same for BT Sports.

Which I can't do as we don't get cable in our area and can't put up a dish. So I'm at ransom for streaming which constantly goes into low def through no fault of my connection.

You can pay up to around $250 AUSD a month for TV in the UK. It's disgusting.

Oh yeah, and the TV license we also have to pay for (no choice) here too ! that's another $300 AUSD a year.

 

[notcool]

Oh yeah, and the TV license we also have to pay for (no choice) here too ! that's another $300 AUSD a year.

You don't have to pay for it it's only if you watch live TV.

 

[AlienALX]

You don't have to pay for it it's only if you watch live TV.

We watch live TV.