BuzzLightyear:

JonnyCam: So, can one sign up to Netflix with a non-US credit card?

I was looking at using, and wanted to know before I got too far down the track.

Takes my NZ card just fine.

Peppery: Is there anything specifically illegal about using a VPN service to watch Netflix, other than violating Netflix's T&Cs? Was the reason Fyx dropped US streaming due to legal issues?

Klipspringer: Ditched Sky about a year ago.

Using Tivo to record the freeview stuff that we watch.

Have both Netflix and Hulu+ via unblock-us.

Also have Vudu for the Pay Per View stuff.

For Sports Im using cricfree.tv on my PC.

Only thing that I’m regretting is that I’m sending my money overseas, but I’m so glad I’m no longer supporting sky’s monopoly.

Sky has created this problem that there are no NZ alternatives, that’s why I have no issues violating Netflix’s and Hulus T&C.

freitasm:

Peppery: Is there anything specifically illegal about using a VPN service to watch Netflix, other than violating Netflix's T&Cs? Was the reason Fyx dropped US streaming due to legal issues?

Nothing illegal. Fyx could face a legal threat from local copyright holders who are very belligerent, and seeing they were just selling Maxnet (owner) to Vocus, obviously they wouldn't want something like that in the way.

Klipspringer:

1080p:

My point is that the streaming services available currently (even the ones not available here) are a poor substitute for currently available home media. Yet they are charged at a similar rate to physical media.

I have yet to see the difference between Vudu HDX (1080p) and a physical blue ray disc.

Maybe I need to go for an eye check-up. The quality on both is excellent.

1080p:

Klipspringer:

1080p:

My point is that the streaming services available currently (even the ones not available here) are a poor substitute for currently available home media. Yet they are charged at a similar rate to physical media.

I have yet to see the difference between Vudu HDX (1080p) and a physical blue ray disc.

Maybe I need to go for an eye check-up. The quality on both is excellent.

What bit rates does Vudu HDX stream at?

timbosan:

1080p:

Klipspringer:

1080p:

My point is that the streaming services available currently (even the ones not available here) are a poor substitute for currently available home media. Yet they are charged at a similar rate to physical media.

I have yet to see the difference between Vudu HDX (1080p) and a physical blue ray disc.

Maybe I need to go for an eye check-up. The quality on both is excellent.

What bit rates does Vudu HDX stream at?

I was interested in knowing this too so had a bit of a look around, and there seems to be wildly different 'opinions' but the general IT press reports 4.5 to 9Mbps, with the ability to spike to 20Mbps.

http://www.missingremote.com/blog/vudu-video-demand-perfected
http://gizmodo.com/5058011/vudu-hdx-1080p-movie-downloads-reviewed-insanely-sharp

Even though this is very high for streaming, and far better than Netflix/Hulu/iTunes, as SlashGear notes it is still 1/2 the bitrate of a Blu-ray

http://www.slashgear.com/vudus-hdx-gets-official-not-a-threat-to-blu-ray-0217984/

However as noted on the Vudu forum, there is a big difference between a well-encoded Vudu movie and the same movie badly encoded as a Bluray, irrespective of bitrate.

http://forum.vudu.com/showthread.php?t=55061

I do have a Vudu account, but haven't watched anything more than free offerings.  I will try out a few and report back (I use unblock-us by the way).

Malingo: I would be keen to know how to get the roku player working in nz. Any threads on that?

turb: If I got (say) unotelly, I'd get some FTA channels which aren't normally accessible in NZ, but if I wanted Netflix I'd then have to subscribe directly with them.

Have I got that right?

Is it easy/possible to record the content to watch later?