Netflix now being region locked :(

Forums › Online streaming services › Netflix now being region locked :(

CrashAndBurn

693 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 105

#273137 6-Aug-2020 13:43

I pay for my Netflix from overseas as it is way cheaper and it seems they have started blocking it for some regions. Luckily it's not blocked for NZ yet but it seems this could happen soon enough. Countries I have tested that only accepts a local account e.g. paid in local currency is Vietnam and Philippines.

1 | 2

4819 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3934

Trusted

#2535795 6-Aug-2020 14:05

If you had a choice of how they did it - which would you prefer to see?

1) Netflix charges a global average everywhere in the world, making it cheap for those in developed nations and completely unaffordable for those in some 3rd world countries?

2) Netflix charges the minimum price they currently charge (let's say India - I don't know if that's cheapest) globally, making it affordable for everyone and then promptly go bankrupt themselves?

3) They try to do what most global suppliers do today - charge more in geographies with higher standards of living and consumer spending power than in places with low spending power, to try and give most people a reasonable chance of being able to afford the service while still making a profit themselves.

I'm not sure there are other logical options.

This of course isn't limited to NF, Microsoft do this as well, so do Google. I imagine Apple do too.

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

networkn

Networkn
32862 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 15453

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2535803 6-Aug-2020 14:27

I don't know your personal circumstances, but NF is what, $20 a month or less? How much cheaper do you want it?

Just pay the local amount, move on with something else...

I'd find it hard to believe you could legitimately find more entertainment for a month for $20 anywhere else.

CrashAndBurn

693 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 105

#2535804 6-Aug-2020 14:28

I get where you are coming from and I guess it is tricky to strike a balance. For me it is more of the fact that overseas Netflix accounts from other countries e.g. US still works elsewhere. But this time, they stopped it from working completely. I have tested my NZ account and it still works in the Vietnam/Philippines. I have tested my Turkey account and it still work here in NZ. Was wondering which countries still have this ability to use anywhere vs being siloed to a specific region/country.

networkn

Networkn
32862 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 15453

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2535816 6-Aug-2020 14:50

NF has always bowed to the content owners as to what regions can see what content. Some people have worked around it, but NF have become more and more adept at it, and I expect at some stage it will become impractical for most people to view another regions content.

As a consumer, you need to decide if the value exists to you.

BlinkyBill

1443 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1100
Inactive user

#2535819 6-Aug-2020 14:56

The hoops to go through to save a ... couple of bucks.

CrashAndBurn

693 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 105

#2535822 6-Aug-2020 14:58

I guess will just keep enjoying the Turkey price until it finally stops working here in NZ. It was a good run anyways for less than $9 a month vs NZ's $21.99 for the same premium plan.

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

MikeB4

MikeB4
18775 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 12765

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#2535831 6-Aug-2020 15:10

I don't have an issue for the price we pay circa $24 p/m for the 4K but content in the last 6 months is deteriorating. We have considered dropping NF as we seem to search more than we watch these days.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

CrashAndBurn

693 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 105

#2535834 6-Aug-2020 15:12

MikeB4:

I don't have an issue for the price we pay circa $24 p/m for the 4K but content in the last 6 months is deteriorating. We have considered dropping NF as we seem to search more than we watch these days.

I feel this started when Disney started pulling out its content.

Talkiet

4819 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3934

Trusted

#2535836 6-Aug-2020 15:17

I pay a slightly discounted price for NF as the HD is bundled with my ISP plan and the upgrade to UHD is $5 billed through my ISP. Even at this price I find that I have an ever increasing list of things to watch... With the amount of time I am able to devote to viewing, at this rate I'm never going to run out of stuff to watch.

For me at least (and everyone I know personally that I have discussed it with), there's more GOOD content than there is time to watch it.

(Obviously that won't be the case for some people and they can dip in and out of the sub as they wish to watch content when it's available)

I think it's great value as is for the NZ catalog.

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

surfisup1000

5288 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2159

#2535837 6-Aug-2020 15:19

BlinkyBill:

The hoops to go through to save a ... couple of bucks.

OP could be a poor student -- or a multimillionaire.

Who knows?

sen8or

1897 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1402

#2535839 6-Aug-2020 15:22

After having a netflix account since 2014 (back before unblocking was difficult), we dropped it in April, also dropped Prime. Between Hulu, Disney+ and Neon/lightbox, there is more than enough content to keep us going. Once we get bored, we'll swap something out and get netflix again at some point, but can't see that anytime soon

Mighty Ape

Shop now at Mighty Ape (affiliate link).

FineWine

3111 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2440

Trusted

Nurse (R)

Lifetime subscriber

#2535844 6-Aug-2020 15:41

I am paying with Spark:

Unplan Netflix Fibre 100 upto 100Mbps (DL) and upto 20Mbps (UL) with data upto 60GB = $78, 60GB to 120GB = $88 and >120GB+ = $98 unlimited. Add in other $10 for a landline

but take away $9 for Netflix SD if you do not want Netflix.

For my family we are happy with the deal. Throw in $9.95 with Spark Neon and that covers all our viewing requirements.

Whilst the difficult we can do immediately, the impossible takes a bit longer. However, miracles you will have to wait for.

Movieman

Movieman
3830 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2526

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#2535923 6-Aug-2020 18:32

My son lives in the UK and he has Netflix 4K, which allows up to 4 or 5 users on the one account. I log into his account, and get the 4K for free. I hardly watch it though. Just the occasional Netflix Original movie.

MAN CAVE: 2025 TCL C7K 75" QD Mini LED TV - Apple TV 4K 32gb (2nd Gen) - Samsung HW Q990F Soundbar - Panasonic DP-UB820 4K Blu-ray Player - Apple Airpods Max - LIVING ROOM: 2021 Sony 75” X95J LCD/LED TV - Apple TV 4K 32gb (1st Gen) - 2 x Apple Homepods Gen.2 (paired) - TECH: iPhone 15 Plus, iPad Gen. 10, Apple Watch SE.

Lias

5655 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3978

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2535964 6-Aug-2020 23:01

Talkiet:

If you had a choice of how they did it - which would you prefer to see?

1) Netflix charges a global average everywhere in the world, making it cheap for those in developed nations and completely unaffordable for those in some 3rd world countries?

2) Netflix charges the minimum price they currently charge (let's say India - I don't know if that's cheapest) globally, making it affordable for everyone and then promptly go bankrupt themselves?

Netflix's profitability or the affordability of a product anywhere outside our borders isn't really germane. The rights of Kiwi consumers to access content at fair and reasonable prices and not have the ability to 'parallel import' it unreasonably removed is the bigger picture, and Netflix isn't the main problem, although they do contribute to it. Content owners are the biggest part of the problem, because they want to maximize their revenue and don't give a rats about the kiwi consumer. I've long advocated for some digital equivalent of our parallel importing laws where companies must supply digital content to NZ on FRAND style terms, without regional price gouging, or they suffer consequences (e.g. losing copyright on it within NZ).

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. Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

Talkiet

4819 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 3934

Trusted

#2536013 6-Aug-2020 23:34

Lias:

Talkiet:

If you had a choice of how they did it - which would you prefer to see?

1) Netflix charges a global average everywhere in the world, making it cheap for those in developed nations and completely unaffordable for those in some 3rd world countries?

2) Netflix charges the minimum price they currently charge (let's say India - I don't know if that's cheapest) globally, making it affordable for everyone and then promptly go bankrupt themselves?

Netflix's profitability or the affordability of a product anywhere outside our borders isn't really germane. The rights of Kiwi consumers to access content at fair and reasonable prices and not have the ability to 'parallel import' it unreasonably removed is the bigger picture, and Netflix isn't the main problem, although they do contribute to it. Content owners are the biggest part of the problem, because they want to maximize their revenue and don't give a rats about the kiwi consumer. I've long advocated for some digital equivalent of our parallel importing laws where companies must supply digital content to NZ on FRAND style terms, without regional price gouging, or they suffer consequences (e.g. losing copyright on it within NZ).

What you're advocating for is ludicrous and I see it as just about amounting to the suspension of copyright in NZ. It would be _brilliant_ in the very short term, I grant you that.

It seems the better we get it here the more some people like to complain.

I still hear people saying the uncongested gigabit fibre to over 80% of the population is not good enough, and everyone wanted Sky to lose their monopoly and for services like Netflix etc to launch in NZ.

It's all happening and now there are complaints that we have to buy multiple services, and that these companies DARE to want to make a profit.

But I'll give you credit for being extremely consistent in your opinions though.

I will say it's not price gouging in the slightest... 30 seconds on Google found this:

https://www.comparitech.com/blog/vpn-privacy/countries-netflix-cost/

Which puts NZ in the bottom half (better half) of price per title and also shows the top and bottom 10 countries in terms of cost of Netflix compared to average income.

Here's a link to the google sheet with the data.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1D0JY_ZpbacHmlQaTEjNPEWERmcmYH_GLdIrKp83A-n4/edit#gid=0

Check it out before doubling down on implying that we're paying too much here.

Here's a pic of one of the tables (admittedly this is for basic Netflix - they haven't created the premium comparison for this particular set of metrics but it will be in the same ballpark.

That shows New Zealand having NF costing 0.23% of the average wage in NZ, which puts us 15th cheapest out of 76 countries. (Sorry, the screenshot was taken when sorted by GDP/capita)

In fact, if anything, the data suggests that Netflix charges customers in poor countries WAY WAY WAY more (in terms of percentage of wage or) than in developed countries. We're getting a great deal.

That is of course, assuming you are going to let facts and data sway your opinion.

Cheers - N

Please note all comments are from my own brain and don't necessarily represent the position or opinions of my employer, previous employers, colleagues, friends or pets.

1 | 2