As a DNS provider - we've investigated the issue and here is what we've found:

1. Netflix recently changed the format of URLs for US and Canadian CDN used for video streaming

2. The affected NZ providers are using transparent caching proxies for the Netflix CDN range of IP addresses. 

They are NOT using these for other IP ranges we tested.

3. The affected NZ providers are using transparent caching proxies that are set up incorrectly:

- They cache content with "no cache" directive in HTTP header (Pragma: no-cache & Cache-Control: no-store)

- They ignore query string part of the URL for caching

The combination of 1, 2 and 3 has resulted in the Netflix streaming issue. Netflix has started using query string part of the URL to request the movie pieces. 

Since the content is cached incorrectly, the Netflix player tries to get a fragment of the movie but gets a completely different movie piece from the proxy and shows the error message. 

Affected ISPs have to reconfigure their proxies to: 

 

• Take query string into account OR 
• Respect "no cache" directive OR 
• Turn them off for Netflix CDN IP range as caching Netflix streaming does not work anymore.

We encourage you to send the above to your ISP - as this is how they can fix the issue. If enough of you speak - then your ISP might do something about it.