Netflix Adds New Countries! Good News or Bad?

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UnoTellyService

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Topic # 152092 16-Sep-2014 01:57

Netflix has just launched in France, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg, and Austria, and they say they will spend $3 billion to produce unique European content.

When do you think Netflix will arrive in New Zealand?

p.s. UnoTelly just supported Netflix France, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Austria today! For those of you that have already checked out the new regions, please recommend some of your favorite films/TV shows!

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Reply # 1129552 16-Sep-2014 02:29

Seems they also launched in Panama according to http://whatsnewonnetflix.tv/

UnoTellyService

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Reply # 1129564 16-Sep-2014 03:58

Cool! Good to know.

Lias

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Reply # 1129576 16-Sep-2014 07:42

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I actually think Netflix being "legit" in NZ would be bad for them, and bad for us.

Because of the messed up way intellectual property crap works, they'd have to get the local rights to content, meaning we wouldn't get the same access to content they currently offer. Netflix NZ would have less content, and probably older content than it's US equivalent. I believe people would try the NZ Netflix, be put off because it's the same old same old, and it would damage the Netflix brand.

Until we get some law changes aimed at breaking the way the US imposed copyright/IP system works (for instance the concepts of regional rights, regional availability, regional pricing etc need to be legislated against), I think the best thing for NZ consumers is for Netflix to stay the hell away from our market.

Information wants to be free. The Net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it.

UnoTellyService

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Reply # 1129580 16-Sep-2014 08:01

Unless you unlock Netflix online so you can watch the US Netflix ;)

sbiddle

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Reply # 1129581 16-Sep-2014 08:04

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One thing that many people fail to grasp about Netflix launching in NZ is that it won't be the same as Netflix in the USA. You're not going to see the vast majority of content as Netflix USA offers as Netflix will not have the rights in this part of the world to the content. In many ways this makes the launch of a local service a moot point.

xpd

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Reply # 1129583 16-Sep-2014 08:08

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sbiddle: One thing that many people fail to grasp about Netflix launching in NZ is that it won't be the same as Netflix in the USA. You're not going to see the vast majority of content as Netflix USA offers as Netflix will not have the rights in this part of the world to the content. In many ways this makes the launch of a local service a moot point.

Thats exactly what Ive been saying to people, NZ Netflix will end up with re-runs of Shortland St and LOTR movies..... so if NF open the doors here, Ill still be sticking to their US option and watch what I want to watch....

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jonathan18

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Reply # 1129603 16-Sep-2014 08:33

xpd:
sbiddle: One thing that many people fail to grasp about Netflix launching in NZ is that it won't be the same as Netflix in the USA. You're not going to see the vast majority of content as Netflix USA offers as Netflix will not have the rights in this part of the world to the content. In many ways this makes the launch of a local service a moot point.

Thats exactly what Ive been saying to people, NZ Netflix will end up with re-runs of Shortland St and LOTR movies..... so if NF open the doors here, Ill still be sticking to their US option and watch what I want to watch....

... plus any NZ Netflix is bound to be set at a significantly higher price point. Still, there's also no guarantee of NZ content - even an NZ company (Spark) has launched its own VOD service with little (nil as far as I'm aware) NZ content.

Further, we (other than those relying on "Global Mode"?) currently get the benefit of being able to use any "version" of Netflix, therefore have access to a much greater range than even offered by the US (so a way better range of recent-release movies, for example).

And I'm sure I heard recently that Sky has locked in exclusive rights to distribute HBO content on-line in NZ - not that this appears on Netflix elsewhere, but it does destroy any notion that an NZ Netflix can be a one-stop shop (for many, anyway).

UnoTellyService

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Reply # 1130371 17-Sep-2014 01:10

sbiddle: One thing that many people fail to grasp about Netflix launching in NZ is that it won't be the same as Netflix in the USA. You're not going to see the vast majority of content as Netflix USA offers as Netflix will not have the rights in this part of the world to the content. In many ways this makes the launch of a local service a moot point.

This seems to be a problem in many countries -- this is why we offer a DNS service that unlocks geo-restricted channels, so you can watch American Netflix in NZ. This works for various other channels as well so you'll always have way too many options ;)

Lurch

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Reply # 1130389 17-Sep-2014 07:02

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jonathan18:

And I'm sure I heard recently that Sky has locked in exclusive rights to distribute HBO content on-line in NZ - not that this appears on Netflix elsewhere, but it does destroy any notion that an NZ Netflix can be a one-stop shop (for many, anyway).

Nordic HBO + Unotelly to the rescue :-)

jonathan18

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Reply # 1130406 17-Sep-2014 08:15

Lurch:
jonathan18:

And I'm sure I heard recently that Sky has locked in exclusive rights to distribute HBO content on-line in NZ - not that this appears on Netflix elsewhere, but it does destroy any notion that an NZ Netflix can be a one-stop shop (for many, anyway).

Nordic HBO + Unotelly to the rescue :-)

How does this work, pray tell? Does it involve the use of a Norwegian credit card or is it something 'normal' folk can sign up for?

gsr

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Reply # 1130444 17-Sep-2014 09:04

Just FYI, Netflix France has Fargo, the series.

dclegg

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Reply # 1130452 17-Sep-2014 09:24

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Lias: I actually think Netflix being "legit" in NZ would be bad for them, and bad for us.

Because of the messed up way intellectual property crap works, they'd have to get the local rights to content, meaning we wouldn't get the same access to content they currently offer. Netflix NZ would have less content, and probably older content than it's US equivalent. I believe people would try the NZ Netflix, be put off because it's the same old same old, and it would damage the Netflix brand.

Until we get some law changes aimed at breaking the way the US imposed copyright/IP system works (for instance the concepts of regional rights, regional availability, regional pricing etc need to be legislated against), I think the best thing for NZ consumers is for Netflix to stay the hell away from our market.

I disagree. Lightbox has shown that it is possible to get a workable SVOD service here. While it certainly isn't as good as NetFlix in the content stakes, its far more impressive than I had hoped for. In fact, we're currently watching Suits on Lightbox because it has more recent seasons than NetFlix currently has.

While the difference between Lightbox & NetFlix may grate with those that have already been parallel importing their TV content, I think the vast majority who haven't (after all, it is currently more a geeks domain) will be quite impressed, especially if NetFlix ends up with content similar in quality, variety and quantity to what Lightbox currently offers.

graemeh

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Reply # 1130479 17-Sep-2014 10:12

gsr: Just FYI, Netflix France has Fargo, the series.

Thanks for that info :)

UnoTellyService

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Reply # 1131127 18-Sep-2014 02:13

Using a DNS service to unlock geo-restricted channels would probably be your best bet so you can watch any TV show from any country's programming.

hashbrown

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Reply # 1131396 18-Sep-2014 13:26

Lias: I actually think Netflix being "legit" in NZ would be bad for them, and bad for us.

Because of the messed up way intellectual property crap works, they'd have to get the local rights to content, meaning we wouldn't get the same access to content they currently offer. Netflix NZ would have less content, and probably older content than it's US equivalent. I believe people would try the NZ Netflix, be put off because it's the same old same old, and it would damage the Netflix brand.

Until we get some law changes aimed at breaking the way the US imposed copyright/IP system works (for instance the concepts of regional rights, regional availability, regional pricing etc need to be legislated against), I think the best thing for NZ consumers is for Netflix to stay the hell away from our market.

Hopefully with a player the size of Netflix in the market, the market itself would begin make the necessary adjustments. Wishful thinking maybe, but more realistic than expecting policiticians to sort things out.

To me an obvious first step would be a unified Aus/NZ market for online broadcast rights.

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