Netflix: further confirmation re: international accounts

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sultanoswing

814 posts

Ultimate Geek

#166241 7-Mar-2015 10:39

This from Consumer today, who interviewed Neil Hunt, Chief Product officer of Netflix (not sure if that's just NZ of if he's overseas-based):

"Already using Netflix?

So the question is, what about all of those Kiwis who have already signed up for Netflix, either through a DNS service or Slingshot’s Global Mode? Well, when you sign up for a Netflix account your account is “global”, meaning that if you have a New Zealand account, but happen to sign into Netflix while you’re in the US, then you’ll get access to everything in the US and vice versa (which may be a rude shock for American users travelling here).

So New Zealand users with American Netflix accounts have nothing to fear in that regard. But if Netflix has its way, the discrepancy between what is offered in different countries will fade away. The plan is to merge everything into a global catalogue, removing differential distribution and release dates."

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6434 posts

Uber Geek

#1252620 7-Mar-2015 11:36

Pretty much as expected.

It's actually a nice feature for kiwis who go traveling. They will be able to access Netflix in Australia, the USA, the uk etc.
(Albeit with different content)

Same can't be said for other services like lightbox or neon. Both totally unusable outside NZ without a vpn.

BarTender

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#1252626 7-Mar-2015 11:51

NonprayingMantis: Pretty much as expected.

It's actually a nice feature for kiwis who go traveling. They will be able to access Netflix in Australia, the USA, the uk etc.
(Albeit with different content)

Same can't be said for other services like lightbox or neon. Both totally unusable outside NZ without a vpn.

Seriously???

Netflix is an international company servicing customers in international locations. Lightbox or Neon is NZ only.

When you use Netflix in other countries (including using geo-block avoidance in whatever method you prefer) you are getting the catalogue that Netflix has signed with the relavent content creators.

To compare Netflix to Lightbox or Neon is a nonsense. Much like comparing Netflix to BBC iPlayer, or SBS in Australia or the multitude of different local content streaming services particular for the country they service.

Just because you are getting around the geo-blocks by whatever means, doesn't change the fact Netflix signed a deal with the content companies for that region.

Eitsop

583 posts

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#1252636 7-Mar-2015 11:58

so now means you can use your own NZ credit card now..

Price must be the equivalent to US price.. just less content in NZ

sonyxperiageek

2958 posts

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#1252637 7-Mar-2015 12:02

He's CPO in San Francisco, so overseas based.

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sultanoswing

814 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1252638 7-Mar-2015 12:05

BarTender:
NonprayingMantis: Pretty much as expected.

It's actually a nice feature for kiwis who go traveling. They will be able to access Netflix in Australia, the USA, the uk etc.
(Albeit with different content)

Same can't be said for other services like lightbox or neon. Both totally unusable outside NZ without a vpn.

Seriously???

Netflix is an international company servicing customers in international locations. Lightbox or Neon is NZ only.

When you use Netflix in other countries (including using geo-block avoidance in whatever method you prefer) you are getting the catalogue that Netflix has signed with the relavent content creators.

To compare Netflix to Lightbox or Neon is a nonsense. Much like comparing Netflix to BBC iPlayer, or SBS in Australia or the multitude of different local content streaming services particular for the country they service.

Just because you are getting around the geo-blocks by whatever means, doesn't change the fact Netflix signed a deal with the content companies for that region.

To be fair, what 'mantis said is factually accurate, and therefore "serious", and I'm not sure that there was an intent to deride Lightbox and Neon by comparison as such. That said, comparing Neon, Lightbox and Netflix (and others) is *exactly* what customers will be doing, rather than "nonsense". While those comparisons may not seem fair, this is a business after all.

Is there anything you don't regard as factual in NPM's post, or were you reading a slur against Lightbox and Neon that may not have been intended?

[EDIT: as per Mantis' reply below]

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek

#1252639 7-Mar-2015 12:05

BarTender:
NonprayingMantis: Pretty much as expected.

It's actually a nice feature for kiwis who go traveling. They will be able to access Netflix in Australia, the USA, the uk etc.
(Albeit with different content)

Same can't be said for other services like lightbox or neon. Both totally unusable outside NZ without a vpn.

Seriously???

Netflix is an international company servicing customers in international locations. Lightbox or Neon is NZ only.

When you use Netflix in other countries (including using geo-block avoidance in whatever method you prefer) you are getting the catalogue that Netflix has signed with the relavent content creators.

To compare Netflix to Lightbox or Neon is a nonsense. Much like comparing Netflix to BBC iPlayer, or SBS in Australia or the multitude of different local content streaming services particular for the country they service.

Just because you are getting around the geo-blocks by whatever means, doesn't change the fact Netflix signed a deal with the content companies for that region.

I think you misunderstand what I am saying

If a kiwi legitimately signs up in nz for the nz netflix service, but then goes travelling to, say, Australia. He will still be able to use his netflix subscription whilst in Australia totally legitimately (he'll just get Australian cintent instead of nz content)
With a service that is only nz based, like lightbox, then that service will be totally geoblocked whilst overseas (unless he uses a vpn to pretend to be in NZ)

Eitsop

583 posts

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#1252650 7-Mar-2015 12:30

so now means you can use your own NZ credit card now..

So if you use VPN for US content, then not for NZ content, and VPN for AU content.. will netflix stop you from "visiting" a new country every day?

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sonyxperiageek

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#1252676 7-Mar-2015 13:10

attewell: so now means you can use your own NZ credit card now..

So if you use VPN for US content, then not for NZ content, and VPN for AU content.. will netflix stop you from "visiting" a new country every day?

Probably too much of a hassle to implement. Plus a lot of customers will probably complain about why things aren't working...

Sony

SirHumphreyAppleby

2844 posts

Uber Geek

#1252707 7-Mar-2015 14:02

sonyxperiageek:
attewell: so now means you can use your own NZ credit card now..

So if you use VPN for US content, then not for NZ content, and VPN for AU content.. will netflix stop you from "visiting" a new country every day?

Probably too much of a hassle to implement. Plus a lot of customers will probably complain about why things aren't working...

Netflix limits the total number of concurrent connections on an account, not the number of devices. There is no reason your 'family' couldn't be traveling in different regions and across regions in a short period of time.

I've used Netflix US, UK, and IE on the same day without any issues.

Wade

2225 posts

Uber Geek

#1252816 7-Mar-2015 16:40

Ok, so I should be able to pay for a NZ Netflix subscription conveniently via NZ CC and then "visit" other Netflix regions via VPN if required?

This would be an awesome outcome with little to no downside i imagine (cue the arguments for paying for US subscription because it is cheaper and watching NZ content :P )

Hurry up and launch goddamit :P

SirHumphreyAppleby

2844 posts

Uber Geek

#1252822 7-Mar-2015 16:56

Wade: Ok, so I should be able to pay for a NZ Netflix subscription conveniently via NZ CC and then "visit" other Netflix regions via VPN if required?

Correct.

FWIW, I pay for a US subscription on a NZ credit card currently.

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek

#1252834 7-Mar-2015 17:20

Wade: Ok, so I should be able to pay for a NZ Netflix subscription conveniently via NZ CC and then "visit" other Netflix regions via VPN if required?

This would be an awesome outcome with little to no downside i imagine (cue the arguments for paying for US subscription because it is cheaper and watching NZ content :P )

Hurry up and launch goddamit :P

Yes. But based on my experience with unblock-us Region switching, you should pay for the region you intend to use most.
Reason for this is that you only get access to your instant watch queue in that region.
In other regions, you can't save things to the queue for later, and that is a very handy feature to miss out on because your primary account is the wrong region.

Lurch

1061 posts

Uber Geek

#1252898 7-Mar-2015 19:16

More interesting is

"But if Netflix has its way, the discrepancy between what is offered in different countries will fade away. The plan is to merge everything into a global catalogue, removing differential distribution and release dates."

Anyway I've always used my NZ debit card, even with Huluplus/HBO go and even the WWE network.

sen8or

1787 posts

Uber Geek

#1253037 7-Mar-2015 21:41

Just tried the unblock us region switcher, gone to Canada, vastly different movies from US options, which I thought were less than inspiring lately, impressive. Rise of planet of the apes, Noah, grand Budapest hotel plus heaps more I've not seen on us netflix.

Even when they launch in nz, see no need to get rid of unblock us (or your preferred option), get the best of both worlds

BarTender

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#1253169 8-Mar-2015 09:55

NonprayingMantis:
BarTender:
NonprayingMantis: Pretty much as expected.

It's actually a nice feature for kiwis who go traveling. They will be able to access Netflix in Australia, the USA, the uk etc.
(Albeit with different content)

Same can't be said for other services like lightbox or neon. Both totally unusable outside NZ without a vpn.

Seriously???

Netflix is an international company servicing customers in international locations. Lightbox or Neon is NZ only.

When you use Netflix in other countries (including using geo-block avoidance in whatever method you prefer) you are getting the catalogue that Netflix has signed with the relavent content creators.

To compare Netflix to Lightbox or Neon is a nonsense. Much like comparing Netflix to BBC iPlayer, or SBS in Australia or the multitude of different local content streaming services particular for the country they service.

Just because you are getting around the geo-blocks by whatever means, doesn't change the fact Netflix signed a deal with the content companies for that region.

I think you misunderstand what I am saying

If a kiwi legitimately signs up in nz for the nz netflix service, but then goes travelling to, say, Australia. He will still be able to use his netflix subscription whilst in Australia totally legitimately (he'll just get Australian cintent instead of nz content)
With a service that is only nz based, like lightbox, then that service will be totally geoblocked whilst overseas (unless he uses a vpn to pretend to be in NZ)

I think you answered your own question.

You will only be able to access the content that your service provider is licensed to stream to you in the country you are in.

Netflix is an international company with presence in the US UK and many others.

Neon, lightbox, sbs, hulu, iplayer are only servicing customers in their own country and are legally bound by the content creators to only stream in their geo as that's what they have licenced.

Otherwise if I lived in AU or US I could sign up to Neon and get outdated standard definition content anywhere in the world.

It's a nonsense what you are talking about complaincomplaining you can't access geo restricted content from outside that geo.

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