Why aren't "Netflix Originals" available in all regions?

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Paul1977

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#208055 25-Jan-2017 08:52

I generally watch US Netflix, but was having a look at the NZ catalog the other day and noted that NZ has at least 3 "Netflix Original" shows that the US doesn't have (Designated Survivor, Shooter, Dirk Gently).

Netflix has gone on record many times about how they want to provide a single global catalog, and that it is the rights holders that are preventing it. If they truly want a single global catalog, surely they should start by including their own original content to all regions?

Does anyone know why they are not?

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#1709164 25-Jan-2017 08:55

They may have sold the rights in NZ to other providers

Paul1977

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#1709165 25-Jan-2017 09:05

MikeB4: They may have sold the rights in NZ to other providers

These particular examples are actually the other way around - available in NZ but not in US. But I assume you are correct that they have sold the rights.

But this doesn't answer the question of why? If they truly want a global catalog why are they selling the rights to their own original content to other providers (if it prevents them from showing the content themselves)?

It seems very hypocritical.

Killerkiwi2005

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#1709167 25-Jan-2017 09:10

Some of those shows are actually produced by a different broadcaster in the US (Dirk is BBC America I think), Netflix then tries to buy the world wide rights but the producer will withhold the US rights

Netflix will prefer shows where they can get world wide rights but will take what they can get if they think its worth it still

Another good example is The Expanse (SyFy channel in the US), Netflix world wide except the US and NZ

Actual Netflix shows will always be worldwide (there were a few expections due to rights already been presold when they went worldwide)

trig42

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#1709169 25-Jan-2017 09:14

Killerkiwi2005:

Some of those shows are actually produced by a different broadcaster in the US (Dirk is BBC America I think), Netflix then tries to buy the world wide rights but the producer will withhold the US rights

Netflix will prefer shows where they can get world wide rights but will take what they can get if they think its worth it still

Another good example is The Expanse (SyFy channel in the US), Netflix world wide except the US and NZ

Actual Netflix shows will always be worldwide (there were a few expections due to rights already been presold when they went worldwide)

But in this case, both Shooter and Designated Survivor are 'Netflix Originals'. Weird they aren't in the US catalog.

Paul1977

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#1709170 25-Jan-2017 09:15

Killerkiwi2005:

Some of those shows are actually produced by a different broadcaster in the US (Dirk is BBC America I think), Netflix then tries to buy the world wide rights but the producer will withhold the US rights

Netflix will prefer shows where they can get world wide rights but will take what they can get if they think its worth it still

Another good example is The Expanse (SyFy channel in the US), Netflix world wide except the US and NZ

Actual Netflix shows will always be worldwide (there were a few expections due to rights already been presold when they went worldwide)

That makes sense.

But why are they calling them Netflix Originals if they actually aren't?

It sucks that we miss out on The Expanse.

heapsort

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#1709171 25-Jan-2017 09:15

I think the answer is that some Netflix originals are not solely created by Netflix. Of the three shows mentioned in this thread, I've watched two on Netflix NZ and Netflix is not sole producer of either. Dirk Gently: joint project of Netflix and BBC America. Designated Survivor: from ABC, not really a Netflix original at all depending on one's interpretation of what original means.

I'm not aware of any show that Netflix has had full original control of and sold away some of it's own distribution rights.

MikeB4

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#1709173 25-Jan-2017 09:17

Paul1977:

MikeB4: They may have sold the rights in NZ to other providers

These particular examples are actually the other way around - available in NZ but not in US. But I assume you are correct that they have sold the rights.

But this doesn't answer the question of why? If they truly want a global catalog why are they selling the rights to their own original content to other providers (if it prevents them from showing the content themselves)?

It seems very hypocritical.

Netflix like all businesses are there to make a profit. If selling the rights in a particular market gives them a greater return then it is logical to do it.

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tripp

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#1709178 25-Jan-2017 09:30

This was the same just before netflix got to NZ with "orange is the new black" (might have been house of cards) spark/lightbox had the rights to the first couple of seasons of the show and it was not on netflix until the contract expired with spark.

Satch

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#1709300 25-Jan-2017 12:06

MikeB4: Netflix like all businesses are there to make a profit. If selling the rights in a particular market gives them a greater return then it is logical to do it.

Yes but then then shouldn't have used the "global catalogue" argument when they went to so much effort to block people accessing other country's content then.

Brumfondl

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#1709338 25-Jan-2017 12:54

The two main shows you mentioned are currently being shown on TV in a standard weekly format in the US, as was Travelers. I would guess this is why they are/were not on the US catalog.

Killerkiwi2005

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#1709356 25-Jan-2017 13:22

trig42:

Killerkiwi2005:

Some of those shows are actually produced by a different broadcaster in the US (Dirk is BBC America I think), Netflix then tries to buy the world wide rights but the producer will withhold the US rights

Netflix will prefer shows where they can get world wide rights but will take what they can get if they think its worth it still

Another good example is The Expanse (SyFy channel in the US), Netflix world wide except the US and NZ

Actual Netflix shows will always be worldwide (there were a few expections due to rights already been presold when they went worldwide)

But in this case, both Shooter and Designated Survivor are 'Netflix Originals'. Weird they aren't in the US catalog.

They are not created by Netflix

Shooter is USA Network, Designated Survivor is ABC

Netflix will put the 'Netflix Original' label on anything that is first run on netflix in a country

MileHighKiwi

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#1709424 25-Jan-2017 14:25

Satch:

MikeB4: Netflix like all businesses are there to make a profit. If selling the rights in a particular market gives them a greater return then it is logical to do it.

Yes but then then shouldn't have used the "global catalogue" argument when they went to so much effort to block people accessing other country's content then.

It's a slow process, we could be a few years away from global catalogues.