Slingshot Global Mode on for all customers

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2348 posts

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#1081100 4-Jul-2014 17:27

Leela2: TV networks scramble after Slingshot's Netflix move

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11287718

Some interesting stuff in that article. I do wonder how long it will last, whether slingshot will change their mind on offering global mode free, or it just completely breaks when netflix and others add extra measures in.

I wonder if TVNZ, TV3 and Sky will refuse to play slingshot ads now

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insane

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#1081102 4-Jul-2014 17:29

Leela2: TV networks scramble after Slingshot's Netflix move

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11287718

Some interesting stuff in that article. I do wonder how long it will last, whether slingshot will change their mind on offering global mode free, or it just completely breaks when netflix and others add extra measures in.

There's many different ways to implement what they are doing. One method might get locked down, but then another will be used.

graemeh

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#1081105 4-Jul-2014 17:32

davidcole:
graemeh:
davidcole:
But if you wanted to take this right into conspiracy theory territory..what is easier for sky, talk to netflix where they're nothing (too small to care about), or talk to slingshot where sky may have some clout (we'll deny your uses access to sky go - for example).

I suspect the same technology that Slingshot are using on services like Netflix can also be used to bypass any attempt that Sky makes to block service for Slingshot customers.

Sky would also get a lot of grief from their paying customers if they were ever arrogant enough to try that approach.

ha ha, I'm sorry, I can't resist, but you think sky cares what it's customers think?

Sky only care if a large number of customers stop paying :) It is the same as the consumer mobile market and any other mass market, the supplier only cares if they start losing a large number of customers.

graemeh

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#1081108 4-Jul-2014 17:38

NonprayingMantis:
xpd: Here we go...

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=11287718

The comment in the article "The new service shut Hollywood studios out of revenue," is BS.... Netflix pays the studios, we pay Netflix.

it's not BS.

you pay Netflix, correct. However, Netflix doesn't pay any extra to the studios just because they have NZ customers. Netflix pays for rights by region - not per customer.

Every NZer signing up to netflix is a NZer who is less likely to buy DVDs, subscribe to sky movies, buy from iTunes etc, therefore the studios do make less money this way. Why do you think they require separate regions in the first place? It's not for fun. They do it because they make more money that way. Bypassing region restrictions means they make less money.

I would be very surprised if Netflix did not pay some sort of "per customer" or revenue sharing payment to the studios.

You are right though, bypassing region restrictions does potentially reduce the income for the studios but as with the whole piracy argument the income is only reduced if those Netflix customers would have otherwise bought the product through local channels.

As a Netflix and Amazon Prime customer I can tell you that for me this is money that I would not have spent if it was not for those services. I certainly would not have bought sky or any other NZ service.

So if you follow "movie industry type logic" then they are actually making more money through my "piracy" than they would have otherwise made.

There you have it, proof that "piracy" actually makes more money for studios ;)

Giggs

252 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1081111 4-Jul-2014 17:45

This might give a hint as to the government's attitude if the studios come calling on this issue. If they won't block torrents they won't block anything else you would think.

http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2014/07/hollywood_wants_dia_child_porn_filter_extended_to_copyright.html

ripdog

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#1081113 4-Jul-2014 17:49

I don't know why on earth anyone thinks this changes anything. Global mode has existed for a year, DNS unblockers for longer. Slingshot had an advertising blitz on TV and newspapers when this feature was released. The sky didn't fall then and it won't fall now.

The fact that studios may lose total profits through NZ consumers switching from, say, sky to netflix shows how much of a ripoff sky is. Slingshot is doing NZ a favour and helping to bring down the scam which is sky. Bravo.

There you have it, proof that "piracy" actually makes more money for studios ;)

That's actually true. Rather, people who care enough about the content tend to be more likely to pay for it than more casual consumers, i.e. people who watch TV shows when they air on FTA TV.

https://torrentfreak.com/0-more-on-content-than-honest-consumers-130510/

Anecdotally, I wouldn't have a music collection or a developed taste for music without piracy, similar for games, etc. Would have never discovered anime if I couldn't pirate it. Piracy is a very good thing for a lot of people in the long term, but short-sighted execs see people copying their stuff for free and freak out, without understanding the true consequences. Luckily, they're basically incapable of stopping it.

insane

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#1081125 4-Jul-2014 18:30

Rappelle: I have had global mode on for months, and I'm still unable to use this service. Netflix always detects I'm from New Zealand. Could this be related to using google's DNS over slingshot's?

Ahuh, directly related

old3eyes

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#1081136 4-Jul-2014 19:03

graemeh:
NonprayingMantis:
graemeh: Can anyone identify a New Zealand law that Slingshot break in offering this service?

It's not illegal.

That is exactly the point I was trying to make to all those who think Sky and others will stop Slingshot from doing this.

They'll most likely lobby the Gov to change the laws just as Microsoft and the MPAA did when Labor was in power to get the parallel importing laws changed..

Regards,

Old3eyes

eXDee

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#1081223 4-Jul-2014 21:48

Hoping for a sort of Streisand Effect here tbh. Not exactly an attempt to censor, but they are certainly wanting to figure out if they can find means to block or discourage the use of such services. Hopefully it simply makes more and more people aware of unblocking services.

richms

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#1081230 4-Jul-2014 22:36

Ive set several people up with it.

Last was on a $150 xbox 360. Only because they thought their grandkids would get some use from it too.

Richard rich.ms

PhantomNVD

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#1081242 4-Jul-2014 22:57

So what are the chances slingshot would let others use their DNS (even for a nominal price?)

insane

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#1081257 4-Jul-2014 23:18

PhantomNVD: So what are the chances slingshot would let others use their DNS (even for a nominal price?)

You're in luck, looks like for $89 a month you can use their DNS servers, and get unlimited broadband and a phone line FREE.

JimmyH

2820 posts

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#1081362 5-Jul-2014 11:13

davidcole:

it may not be illegal (again it's untested in courts)...but Sky are still the legitimate rights holders for a bunch of this content in NZ. So I'd imagine they would have a leg to stand on.

And there was some scuttlebutt floating aroudn when fyx shut up shop that it was because sky put pressure on them.

It's true that Sky (and TVNZ, TV3 etc) are legitimate rights holders for some NZ content, but so what? That's just a contract between them and the studio(s) in question.

Canon NZ, for instance, is the sole legitimate distributor for Canon cameras in NZ and would doubtless argue that they have paid for the right, and invested significant sums in their distribution and support network etc. That doesn't mean that I can't but a Canon camera off Amazon or B&H etc and cut them out of the mix, nor should it. Same as Sky, the movie theatres showing a film, Roadshow NZ (which distributes DVDs) et al have no right to stop me importing a DVD direct from America - before or after they have chosen to release it here - even if I bypass geoblocking (AKA zones on the disk) by using a multiregion DVD player to do so.

This is no different. It isn't about piracy. It's about people bypassing the authorised domestic distributors and parallel importing legitimate product, and paying legitimate vendors to do so.

No different to the World Cup when Adidas tried to stop people parallel importing of All Blacks Jerseys (which they were selling much cheaper in other countries), accompanied by public whining and bleating about the size of their sponsorship investment, and leaning on overseas resellers not to ship here. They didn't have a leg to stand on, and rightly got odium for the attempt.

I fail to see why movies and TV series are any different?

sen8or

1603 posts

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#1081379 5-Jul-2014 11:44

There remains a clause in the copyright act preventing the sale / distribution / renting of movies within a certain period of their theatrical release in NZ, I believe this has recently been shortened from about 6 months to 3-4, this provision will most likely lapse at its next expiry (3 more years I believe). This provision however does not eliminate the right to import movies for personal use. I don't know if digital media is treated any different than physical media.

Ofcourse the incumbents are trying to protect their existing business models, outside of Netflix and maybe Apple TV in the US, physical media is still the only profitable distribution method for new release movies (although how profitable for the end retailers / rental shops is open for huge debate).

Geographically trying to control content in the current day does seem nonsensical, they would spend more money trying to combat it than they would lose in profits by adopting to it, lets face it, when we connect to the internet, do we care if we are connecting to NZ or the US, or is it more important we get what we want?

I still prefer physical media for certain situations (EG watching a Blu-ray on my projector) as the quality of the product is superior to digital (even SuperHD over Netflix), but on a 42 or 50 inch TV, makes bugger all difference.

Fred99

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#1081605 5-Jul-2014 20:36

There's no moral justification for differential pricing on copyright "media". It shouldn't be treated any differently from other products and services. Reducing barriers to free trade has been a consistent (bipartisan) objective of NZ governments since the 1980s. (Near) monopolies which have prospered in NZ (Sky TV is an example) are beneficiaries of protectionism which benefits only themselves - not content creators or the consumer. There is no moral reason whatsoever why a consumer anywhere should be "locked in" by an agreement with a local provider - who does nothing at all to add value - except "clip the ticket". This needs to stop.
If an agreement such as TPP - at the behest of US media corporations lobbying the US govt - places "media" in some special category so that they get "special treatment" not afforded to other suppliers of goods and services, then that would be a backward step - and anti -"free trade". NZ should (and hopefully will) reject any pressure.
This should be integral to WTA policy - and overriding any local deals done as FTAs. That as well as some gutsy international agreement to nail "profit shifting" would make the world a much better place.

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