Global mode over ? Lets see.....

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134 posts

Master Geek

#1284743 15-Apr-2015 14:17

Putting Netflix to one side because the majority of the content is back-catalogue, NZ actually needs a decent service that is providing more up-to-date content like Hulu Plus or Amazon Prime at an affordable price. The current contenders either are too expensive, don't support enough devices, poor content, 14 days to watch or restricted to only 5 devices. If NZ distributors can't up their game then they will lose completely to overseas providers. They will end up in a position of "reseller" rather than provider in the same way that Vodafone operate for their cable TV service.

That's the real problem. Give us an equivalent service to overseas (i.e. the US) and 90% of this issue would go away. Same selection at the same price, maybe slightly more, although given it's online is their much to add? Not sure on that - it must be way cheaper than physically shipping items down here.

The worst thing? It's completely technically possible. The illegal and VPN/global mode options prove it is - their restrictions are a sham. We are being intentionally hobbled because of money. And these companies won't give us a comparable service, even though they can. Is it any wonder people despise them, and go elsewhere?

dclegg

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#1284748 15-Apr-2015 14:26

Recent frustrations have hinted at another way local SVOD providers could be differentiating their services.

We have an ADSL2 connection that usually sits around 8-10Mb/s during the day. Recently in the evenings this can dip to around 3-6Mb/s. When this happens, our parallel imported SVOD solutions can struggle. Hulu will buffer a lot more, and HBO Now becomes almost unusable. When that fella stops to buffer again, it usually takes a couple of minutes before the stream resumes.

Lightbox, on the other hand, works like a champ, often still streaming in full HD under these conditions. Netflix* also fares well, but I put that down to having the most robust streaming platform out of all the SVOD providers we use.

So instead of whinging and whining about this issue, why not market the better performance of your solution due to the content being streamed locally.

*I'm currently using Netflix Australia, as I'm watching a locally produced show that none of our local providers have in their catalogue.

shk292

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#1284778 15-Apr-2015 14:49

StarBlazer:
But Netflix is paying for the rights - this makes it totally different to some dodgy Russian site. Admittedly, they are getting no additional money for me being a subscriber but they are still technically getting something. .

Exactly - the argument that you are ripping off the content originators by using US Netflix is completely misleading - the originators are getting exactly as much money from me in NZ joining US Netflix as a new subscriber as they are from Joe Bloggs in USA who joined Netflix on the same day as me. Whether this is 95%, 25%, 5% or 0% of my Netflix subscription is not my concern, and it certainly shouldn't be VF NZ's concern. This is just another indicator that the licensing model in use , which relies on geographic cartels and exclusive rights, is broken. VF, Sky etc may wish to try to keep the broken model breathing for a few more years, but that doesn't mean I as a NZ consumer should support them.

If the content owners and distributors can't come up with a licencing model that is based on viewing numbers and is fair to users regardless of their location then they deserve to be pirated

1101

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#1284815 15-Apr-2015 15:13

I wouldnt worry about any of this too much...

lightbox will be gone a year from now.
Given their quite limited shows, crappy, buggy Silverlight interface & limited supported devices, there's no way they can compete with Netfix(NZ)

This may all be one last gasp for air, truly clutching at straws

Behodar

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#1284847 15-Apr-2015 15:50

Mynxnet has sent this to all customers:

Hi there,

Mynxnet and a number of other New Zealand ISPs recently received a letter from Buddle Findlay representing a conglomerate of old-media companies in New Zealand; Sky Network Television, TVNZ, Lightbox (a Spark company), and MediaWorks.

The letter claims that our offering of the Global Mode service to our customers, allowing customers to access previously region-blocked content from overseas such as BBC iPlayer, Netflix, etc, is unlawful. This claim has not been tested in New Zealand courts or ruled upon by the Commerce Commission, however the letter "requires" us to cease offering the Global Mode service by 15 April 2015 or face further legal proceedings.

Mynxnet does not know if Global Mode is unlawful or lawful. Mynxnet believes the unclear nature of New Zealand law in this regard, in particular the Copyright Act 1994, needs to be ruled upon by the Commerce Commission. Similar services are offered by overseas companies like Un-block-us (https://www.unblock-us.com/) and Unotelly (https://www2.unotelly.com) for less than $5 US per month.

As you know, Mynxnet is a small specialist ISP and unfortunately we simply do not have the resources to challenge the claims made by the media companies. Barring any further action by other ISPs - or by the Commerce Commission - we will disable the Global Mode service by 5:00 pm today (15 April 2015).
Thank you for your continued support.

Letter to Mynxnet from Buddle Findlay (PDF)

Mynxnet’s response to Buddle Findlay (PDF)

Bypass Network Services Limited (BNSL) Press Release

Cheers

Campbell Anderson

Additionally, NBR has posted an article.

Bee

732 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1284848 15-Apr-2015 15:50

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/67767445/global-mode-firm-thumbs-nose-at-tv-giants

I think we all know that the real "enemy" of Lightbox and Sky is Netflix... and that's a battle they will not win in a hurry...

the whole argument of trying to say that global mode is illegal is not going to achieve much for them and is essentially just heavy handed bullying at this point.

edit for spelling

Doing your best is much more important than being the best.

dafman

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#1284864 15-Apr-2015 16:13

Behodar: Mynxnet has sent this to all customers:

Hi there,

Mynxnet and a number of other New Zealand ISPs recently received a letter from Buddle Findlay representing a conglomerate of old-media companies in New Zealand; Sky Network Television, TVNZ, Lightbox (a Spark company), and MediaWorks.

The letter claims that our offering of the Global Mode service to our customers, allowing customers to access previously region-blocked content from overseas such as BBC iPlayer, Netflix, etc, is unlawful. This claim has not been tested in New Zealand courts or ruled upon by the Commerce Commission, however the letter "requires" us to cease offering the Global Mode service by 15 April 2015 or face further legal proceedings.

Mynxnet does not know if Global Mode is unlawful or lawful. Mynxnet believes the unclear nature of New Zealand law in this regard, in particular the Copyright Act 1994, needs to be ruled upon by the Commerce Commission. Similar services are offered by overseas companies like Un-block-us (https://www.unblock-us.com/) and Unotelly (https://www2.unotelly.com) for less than $5 US per month.

As you know, Mynxnet is a small specialist ISP and unfortunately we simply do not have the resources to challenge the claims made by the media companies. Barring any further action by other ISPs - or by the Commerce Commission - we will disable the Global Mode service by 5:00 pm today (15 April 2015).
Thank you for your continued support.

Letter to Mynxnet from Buddle Findlay (PDF)
http://mynxnet.com/pdf/buddle_findley_letter.pdf

Mynxnet’s response to Buddle Findlay (PDF)
http://mynxnet.com/pdf/buddle_findley_letter_response.pdf

Bypass Network Services Limited (BNSL) Press Release
https://bypass.net.nz/blog/post/08_Apr_2015_press_release_skytvmediaworkstvnzlightbox_stamp_on_nz

Cheers

Campbell Anderson

Additionally, NBR has posted an article.

+1 for BNSL. It may be too early call for one court case, but in the court of public opinion, there will be four significant losers.

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

freitasm

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#1284917 15-Apr-2015 16:33

From CallPlus:

15 April 2015

We have responded to SKY, Spark, Mediaworks and TVNZ’s cease and desist letters today.

We reject their vague assertions and are seeking clarification of their claims.

We stand by our strongly-held belief that access to the internet via Global Mode is completely legal, and believe threats of legal action from this gang of big media companies are just an attempt to restrict consumer choice in favour of their profits.

NZ consumers simply don’t want to have limited content options, and to pay more for goods and services in NZ – whether it be for digital content, books, DVDs or software – than our overseas cousins.

We’re glad to see that ByPass, who supply the Global Mode service to us, have not caved in to these unfair demands so that together we can keep Global Mode going for the benefit of Kiwi consumers.

sultanoswing

814 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1284932 15-Apr-2015 16:37

freitasm: From CallPlus:

15 April 2015

We have responded to SKY, Spark, Mediaworks and TVNZ’s cease and desist letters today.

We reject their vague assertions and are seeking clarification of their claims.

We stand by our strongly-held belief that access to the internet via Global Mode is completely legal, and believe threats of legal action from this gang of big media companies are just an attempt to restrict consumer choice in favour of their profits.

NZ consumers simply don’t want to have limited content options, and to pay more for goods and services in NZ – whether it be for digital content, books, DVDs or software – than our overseas cousins.

We’re glad to see that ByPass, who supply the Global Mode service to us, have not caved in to these unfair demands so that together we can keep Global Mode going for the benefit of Kiwi consumers.

To quote the infamous Clarence Boddicker: "Ooo - guns, guns, guns!"

Zeon

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#1284937 15-Apr-2015 16:41

NonprayingMantis:
Zeon: Meh - I'll be suggesting people just start torrenting again. How many years has the content industry trying to deal with pirates - finally a solution comes up where the media companies are paid and now they want to close it down.... for what, to support their antiquated licensing model which is irrelevant today?? they deserve the piracy.

why wouldn't you suggest they switch to Unblock-us or Unotelly? they are both better than global mode anyway.

(and just to correct something. With Netflix, the studios are not getting paid any more money for the 'fake' subscribers, only Netflix is. This is because Netflix licence their content on a flat fee per region, not on a 'per subscriber' basis.
So from the studios point of view it's no different to piracy. Customers getting access to content for which nobody has paid them the rights. The fact that you are paying Netflix is irrelevant to the studios. You could be paying some dodgy russian site, or a private torrent tracker, and the effect to the studios is the same)

Similar argument can be made for BBC iplayer. It's free to UK subscribers with no ads, because people in the UK pay a licence fee. If you are accessing the iplayer and not paying the licence, then the BBC is getting nothing.

That licensing model for them to Netflix is flawed then and they should change it. The world is quickly becoming if not already a homogeneous market - especially for content/serviced delivered by the internet.

Speedtest 2019-10-14

Benoire

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#1284951 15-Apr-2015 17:02

I look forward to the legal case from this. We will either see that bypassing geo-blocking is legal in NZ and therefore the media companies will have to do something to save money in the long term or go under, or we will find that the media companies can legally enforce the contracts as sole distributer in NZ and that ISPs may be forced to do some blocking of DNS spoofing... Either way it will be interesting to watch.

I do wonder how long the content owners will sit by and watch all this happen... They'll only change their distribution model when it becomes financially relevant for them.

richms

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#1284984 15-Apr-2015 17:28

I would have thought it better if they just bought a newspaper add with the challenge accepted meme.

Richard rich.ms

Bobdn

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Master Geek

#1284993 15-Apr-2015 17:39

CrushKill: The thing that really bugs me about all this is the geo locking angle of these companies. I have no problem paying for content, but refuse to pay companies here in NZ over inflated prices, when I know I can get the exact same product, or in the case of TV and movies, even better products (HD, greater selection, etc) from a website overseas - almost certainly the people who sold the right to the NZ companies in the first place. The fact that I live here in NZ is irrelevant to me - the consumer. They are just products, like any other I can get from overseas. We can import other items, I don't see how this is any different.

We are effectively paying a middle man to see content at inflated prices, often out of date, when I could buy straight from the source. It's ridiculous. I just spend my money elsewhere instead, on other forms of entertainment. Their loss.

Lightbox is free to Spark users for 12 months and, along with Netflix NZ, is only $13 per month for everyone else. Cheap as chips (and two potato fritters and two fish).

Gee, I'm really enjoying Netflix. Watched this great Swedish movie last night called Let the Right One in.

StarBlazer

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#1285118 15-Apr-2015 20:56

Bobdn:
CrushKill: The thing that really bugs me about all this is the geo locking angle of these companies. I have no problem paying for content, but refuse to pay companies here in NZ over inflated prices, when I know I can get the exact same product, or in the case of TV and movies, even better products (HD, greater selection, etc) from a website overseas - almost certainly the people who sold the right to the NZ companies in the first place. The fact that I live here in NZ is irrelevant to me - the consumer. They are just products, like any other I can get from overseas. We can import other items, I don't see how this is any different.

We are effectively paying a middle man to see content at inflated prices, often out of date, when I could buy straight from the source. It's ridiculous. I just spend my money elsewhere instead, on other forms of entertainment. Their loss.

Lightbox is free to Spark users for 12 months and, along with Netflix NZ, is only $13 per month for everyone else. Cheap as chips (and two potato fritters and two fish).

Gee, I'm really enjoying Netflix. Watched this great Swedish movie last night called Let the Right One in.

That's the point, they have to give it away to make it competitive otherwise they won't stand a chance.

Procrastination eventually pays off.

insane

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#1285127 15-Apr-2015 21:05

Behodar: Mynxnet has sent this to all customers:

....Mynxnet does not know if Global Mode is unlawful or lawful...

That sentence made me cringe! For a company to say they don't know implies they strongly suspect they are in the wrong. At least CP have come out saying they believe they are right, ie no admission of guilt.

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