Netflix to crack down on unblockers

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dazhann

465 posts

Ultimate Geek

#190876 15-Jan-2016 07:31

Hope the dns services have a plan B

http://www.theverge.com/2016/1/14/10767982/netflix-blocking-proxies-vpn-country-restrictions

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458 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1471537 15-Jan-2016 08:01

I better start binge watching Murdoch Mysteries!!

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michaelmurfy

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#1471542 15-Jan-2016 08:05

Interesting. Let's see how this pans out. They've already tried doing this once before without too much success.

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johnr

19282 posts

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#1471543 15-Jan-2016 08:05

Wait for NZ ISPs help desks to get slammed with calls accusing (insert ISP name) for blocking it

spk18

85 posts

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#1471566 15-Jan-2016 08:22

Looks like to me its already begun - getting the Netflix black screen of death while running Apple TV4, unblock-us on VF cable Wellington. Initially could get into Netflix last night but didn't have US content, so I restarted and couldn't get in at all. Worked perfectly the days before. Ugh. Anyone else have issues or is this just me?

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

Uber Geek

#1471575 15-Jan-2016 08:30

Wil be interesting to see how they do it.

Maybe a combination of things

Off the top of my head here are some ways they could do it:
1) Anybody who switches regions and is watching a new region within minutes of switching is clearly using a service like this.
2) Maybe looking at location of account and comparing with where majority of watching is being done I.e. An NZ account that almost always watches USA content, along with being more strict with checking address of credit card with location of customer.
3) blocking the IP ranges of the top 5-10 unblocking services and keeping on top of them.
4) Changng their cdn settings so that only content served to a region is allowed to be hosted there - that will make streaming from other regions much lower quality, as well as hurt ISPs by forcing it to be international traffic.

Those things combined will stop the majority of people using Netflix 'incorrectly'. Yes, there will always be ways around it for people who are techs enough but they don't need to stop everybody, just 'most' people.

geekiegeek

2513 posts

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#1471577 15-Jan-2016 08:31

Hopefully the DNS services already have a plan B in place so there isn't to much disruption. I have a VPN service as well so if UnoTelly stops working I can push my traffic through that (has multiple landing points in the US).

Hulu tried this a while back and it didn't take long for the DNS providers to change IP's and get round it. Let the game of whack-a-mole begin.

geekiegeek

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#1471578 15-Jan-2016 08:33

spk18: Looks like to me its already begun - getting the Netflix black screen of death while running Apple TV4, unblock-us on VF cable Wellington. Initially could get into Netflix last night but didn't have US content, so I restarted and couldn't get in at all. Worked perfectly the days before. Ugh. Anyone else have issues or is this just me?

No issues on UnoTelly, seeing US content.

Lias

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#1471582 15-Jan-2016 08:44

I'm a geek, a gamer, a dad, a Quic user, and an IT Professional. I have a full rack home lab, size 15 feet, an epic beard and Asperger's. I'm a bit of a Cypherpunk, who believes information wants to be free and the Net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it. If you use my Quic signup you can also use the code R570394EKGIZ8 for free setup.

shk292

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#1471726 15-Jan-2016 10:49

This move would only serve to make Netflix less attractive and pirating a better alternative. I've hardly torrented anything since becoming a Netflix subscriber, but the software is still on the PC and I'm not convinced that Netfliz's NZ offering is worth the subscription...

tstone

381 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1471728 15-Jan-2016 10:50

spk18: Looks like to me its already begun - getting the Netflix black screen of death while running Apple TV4, unblock-us on VF cable Wellington. Initially could get into Netflix last night but didn't have US content, so I restarted and couldn't get in at all. Worked perfectly the days before. Ugh. Anyone else have issues or is this just me?

Coincidentally, I signed up for Netflix last night, using the Xbox One App, using Unbock-Us pointed to NZ for the sign-up process. I then pointed it back to the US and everything worked fine. No problems so far....

DeepBlueSky

547 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1471741 15-Jan-2016 11:01

This is not Netflix fault rather content providers trying to continue to impose their 1990's regional model to the current Global market.

Its totally counter productive to getting rid of pirating; once music was pirated on a wholesale basis but with the introduction of streaming services the likes of Spotify its on its last knees I would suggest.

As I see it one of two things will happen, either this Netflix statement is what it is a statement that will placate the content providers and show Netflix is doing something without actually doing something if you know what I mean. Or scenario two they go in boots and all to block geo DNS services and possibly succeed; this will one hit them in the bottom line as people unsubscribe and there be a few I'm sure, and two start up a new round of pirate sites sending everyone back a few years.

Only time will tell but it will be interesting.

NonprayingMantis

6434 posts

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#1471764 15-Jan-2016 11:17

DeepBlueSky: This is not Netflix fault rather content providers trying to continue to impose their 1990's regional model to the current Global market.

Its totally counter productive to getting rid of pirating; once music was pirated on a wholesale basis but with the introduction of streaming services the likes of Spotify its on its last knees I would suggest.

As I see it one of two things will happen, either this Netflix statement is what it is a statement that will placate the content providers and show Netflix is doing something without actually doing something if you know what I mean. Or scenario two they go in boots and all to block geo DNS services and possibly succeed; this will one hit them in the bottom line as people unsubscribe and there be a few I'm sure, and two start up a new round of pirate sites sending everyone back a few years.

Only time will tell but it will be interesting.

Could make the argument that it is entirely Netflix fault.

They have signed contracts with content providers where they pay a much lower fee to only sell the content in one or two countries. The contract also likely says they MUST take steps to stop customers accessing the content outside those countries.
A few years ago, IP blocking was a pretty decent way of stopping most people from doing that. With the massive rise of unblockers but not anymore. Netflix need to update their measures in order to justify only paying for regional rights and not be in breach of their contracts.
If they want to sell globally they need to buy global rights. Until they do, they need to stop selling to people where they have no right to sell to them.

geekiegeek

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#1471772 15-Jan-2016 11:24

NonprayingMantis:
DeepBlueSky: This is not Netflix fault rather content providers trying to continue to impose their 1990's regional model to the current Global market.

Its totally counter productive to getting rid of pirating; once music was pirated on a wholesale basis but with the introduction of streaming services the likes of Spotify its on its last knees I would suggest.

As I see it one of two things will happen, either this Netflix statement is what it is a statement that will placate the content providers and show Netflix is doing something without actually doing something if you know what I mean. Or scenario two they go in boots and all to block geo DNS services and possibly succeed; this will one hit them in the bottom line as people unsubscribe and there be a few I'm sure, and two start up a new round of pirate sites sending everyone back a few years.

Only time will tell but it will be interesting.

Could make the argument that it is entirely Netflix fault.

They have signed contracts with content providers where they pay a much lower fee to only sell the content in one or two countries. The contract also likely says they MUST take steps to stop customers accessing the content outside those countries.
A few years ago, IP blocking was a pretty decent way of stopping most people from doing that. With the massive rise of unblockers but not anymore. Netflix need to update their measures in order to justify only paying for regional rights and not be in breach of their contracts.
If they want to sell globally they need to buy global rights. Until they do, they need to stop selling to people where they have no right to sell to them.

Not sure I agree that Netflix purposely only buy local rights. Look at NZ as an example, if Sky already have the local rights then Netflix cannot buy them.

SaltyNZ

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#1471774 15-Jan-2016 11:25

geekiegeek: Look at NZ as an example, if Sky already have the local rights then Netflix cannot buy them.

Hopefully the next time the contracts come up for renewal Sky will find it much harder to lock them up exclusively.

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davidcole

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#1471777 15-Jan-2016 11:27

SaltyNZ:
geekiegeek: Look at NZ as an example, if Sky already have the local rights then Netflix cannot buy them.

Hopefully the next time the contracts come up for renewal Sky will find it much harder to lock them up exclusively.

You pays teh monies, you gets the contracts...Should be as simple as that. Whoever has the bigger pockets and bigger desire will take it out I guess.

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