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In Asia, Netflix trips on regulation, content, and competition

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As long as their libraries are limited, and they have to wait six months or a year to show popular shows, these streaming sites will find it difficult to get customers. As a hulu customer, we are so far behind on shows that it is so frustrating. Sunday in the US, GOT will begin season 6, but we only have up to season 4, the same with Downton Abby. The show has now finished back in the US, but we are two seasons behind.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

WOW! This story doesn't even mention how Netflix gained such a huge international customer base because of its tech savvy subscribers using VPN to access the US Netflix content and by word of mouth through forums and chat groups which by the way Netflix was well aware of and made Netflix $$$,$$$,$$$. Now Netflix decides that it's going to listen to its content providers and block ALL VPN. Great so if you're using VPN at work or have a tablet and you're staying at a hotel or in a free wi-fi area and you want to watch Netflix, you HAVE TO TURN OFF YOUR VPN security even if you are using a VPN server that is in your country and you are in that same country where your billing address is for your credit card. Netflix took the easy way out and now is starting to pay the price in lost revenue.

Speaking of price, Netflix is raising the grandfathered pricing for loyal long term customers starting May 9 from $7.99 in the U.S. and Canada to $9.99 if they wish to keep the same plan but are blocking VPN and most Netflix customers have no clue that is about to happen. A lot of Netflix customers are now finding without VPN active that their Netflix service is slower or even stops streaming altogether now because their ISP can see (IP address) that they are watching Netflix and is throttling them. I have first hand experience of this slow crappy service. Content loading takes forever and the image quality is lousy. It takes several page refreshes to get a show or movie to start and then 10 to 15 minutes into it, the image get all pixelated.

As soon as everyone loses their grandfathered pricing, there will be no incentive for them to stick around. That coupled with that crappy image quality if you're getting throttled by your ISP for watching Netflix and no VPN for security and/or more Netflix content options will see a MASSIVE downturn in Netflix's profit. I predict that people will now get Netflix for a month at a time only when big new releases come out, binge watch them and bail. This probably means most that leave Netflix will only come back for about 4 to 8 months out of the year at max. This will all start to play out starting May 9th as billing cycles start to reflect the 25% higher pricing.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Every Netflix user I know cancelled their subscription after they removed US content access. Is anybody really surprised the company is going down the spout?

3 ( +4 / -1 )

I would imagine that the percentage of users who were accessing US content with a VPN was a pretty small percentage of netflix subscribers.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Are we supposed to believe there are markets other than Japan where American companies cannot just waltz in and make as much money as they want to?

Unbelievable.

And, what about this. "The communications ministry also demanded that Netflix set up a local office and pay Indonesian taxes." Talk about xenophobia and trying to exclude foreign firms. Almost as bad as Japan, right?

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

Netflix should allow anyone to subscribe to the US service, no matter where they live. That solves the regulation/bribes/tax problems of many countries.

To beat torrents Netflix has to offer high definition video, allow files to be saved to computers and copied to other devices and eliminate all country-based content restrictions. Until they can do that torrents remain the better option for most people.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Love netflix ! I have so much to watch right now that I sometimes go to bed at 1 after watching netflix. Weekends are netflix free so I catchup after the wife and kid goes to bed.

Hulu Japan went downhill after they were taken over by TBS (I think? please correct me if Im wrong).

Netflix does have some Japanese dramas which are subtitled in english (which is good for me as I can clearly focus and not go to sleep) and I can watch them with my wife.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Consumers lose when content providers choose to differentiate themselves from each other through which content they offer on their platform and not the quality with which they offer it.

Imagine if this mindset had existed in the early days of pop music. "I'm sorry, the Beatles aren't available in your region. Please select a different record. You have selected Elvis. It appears you're trying to listen to music on a Crosley turntable platform. Due to licensing issues, we are only allowed to play Elvis records on the Fidelity platform. Would you like to listen to some Chubby Checker instead?"

3 ( +6 / -3 )

I left HULU in hopes of finding the same kind of entertainment I found on Netflix's USA and at first I was happy then I realized that season 2 of shows I was watching were not available sorry to say ~ Hopefully in the near future they'll get their act together or I'll put them on hold until they do ~

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Netflix Japan is way different. With movies like ' The Departed' constantly trending. The new releases are a joke. 90% of what your searching for isn't even there. And the Japanese movies do not ft English subtitles.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I've been enjoying Netflix a lot. Their own shows are very good quality and released at the same time as US, and they are even starting to release broadcast shows at the same time as US, or shortly thereafter (Shadowhunters, The 100, etc). They are also making an effort into putting English subs to their new Japanese/Chinese releases. For Y1k a month is much more worth it than when I used to sub to Wowow.

You can't blame Netflix for the IP blocking, that comes from demands of local distributors of that content, something Nefllix has no power over. As they re-negotiate contracts, more things will become available everywhere else and not just US. It just isn't going to happen as easily with older shows/movies.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Actually, has anyone realized that Hulu acquired the HBO rights for Japan? If you look at their lineup now I think you'll be surprised at their offerings. I signed up last week after seeing it. Hopefully they get a good release on GoT this week

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Hulu didn't acquire the HBO catalogue for Japan. Hulu was fortunate enough to get the rights to a very small number of HBO programs right from Hulu's earliest days in Japan. The HBO selections are still very limited but some are very good. Before Netflix arrived in Japan Hulu was fortunate enough to get the rights to Netflix's super popular House of Cards but only the first season. That, of course, is no longer available on Hulu now that Netflix is in Japan.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I'm happy with Netflix in Japan.

It's way better than Skyperfect and cheaper, and I was one of the early subscribers to Skyperfect (number 600 plus).

Just moved house and haven't bothered to resign to Skyperfect at the new address. Only missing CNN and the BBC.

Anything to do with the Japanese and entertainment is a recipe for disaster, they just haven't got a clue. I watched Skyperfect go downhill, once Murdoch sold his shares. The same with Hulu being taken over by TBS. Hopefully Netflix will keep the Japanese at arm's length, when deciding content or we'll have another bout of infantile dramas and NHK repeats drowning out all other choice.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Wish I could watch the US Netflix and Hulu.

I have both Japan versions and they are way overloaded with Japanese content. (fair enough I suppose) but it sucks big time for me. 90% is unwatchable infantile twaddle and crappy anime.

Who wants to watch Airwolf or Nightrider??

absolute garbage.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I'm happy with Netfilx Japan too. I don't spend too much time watching stuff, so enjoy it when I do and there's plenty of content for my children. Hulu Japan was terrible though.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Have never had a problem with BitTorrent. Great picture quality. Plays smooth. Pricing is very reasonable.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

I watch a 4-5 hours of TV and movies a week. Amazon Prime and Netflix are more than enough to keep me amused.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

@Scrote

Netflix should allow anyone to subscribe to the US service, no matter where they live. That solves the regulation/bribes/tax problems of many countries.

It's not their call - it's a combination of draconian local copyright laws & the tightar*e-ness of content providers. Japan is a prime example of this. Look at how Netflix & Hulu have turned out here. Not to mention Spotify being nowhere in sight. They want the DVD / CD gravy train to run indefinitely.

Until studios get in touch with reality and deliver content on demand, at the same time, they will continue to struggle. This is how it's always been.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Netflix got Mad Max on Saturday - incredible

2 ( +2 / -0 )

By the way, it was Nippon Television that bought Hulu, not TBS. And whoever said it above, after the purchase it all went to hell. They really started to push their catalogue of old shows, and they haven't done anything to include new movies or other good overseas shows.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Have never had a problem with BitTorrent

Damn right. Why pay for a lousy service when you can get it for free. Not to mention music and porn

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Imagine if this mindset had existed in the early days of pop music. "I'm sorry, the Beatles aren't available in your region. >>Please select a different record. You have selected Elvis. It appears you're trying to listen to music on a Crosley >>turntable platform. Due to licensing issues, we are only allowed to play Elvis records on the Fidelity platform. Would you >>ike to listen to some Chubby Checker instead?"

Spot on ! "They" just can't stop police order every aspect of our life, including what is good for us to see in that part of the world versus another location, typical nonsense of corporation taking over the creative and talented people.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

I found it hypocrisy that Netflix allows army people outside the u.s. to use VPN but everyone else can't.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I found it hypocrisy that Netflix allows army people outside the u.s. to use VPN but everyone else can't.

What are you talking about? With a little research, anyone can find and use the appropriate VPN to access the Netflix US content. I use two different VPNs and never had a problem, depending on the program, sometimes my wife can get by without Japanese subtitles, other programs it's more difficult and quite often, those programs are not on the Japanese Netflix site, sadly. I hope that Netflix takes these issues seriously and tries to overcome these legal issues and provide other Asian countries with as much NEWER content as the US version

0 ( +0 / -0 )

With a little research, anyone can find and use the appropriate VPN to access the Netflix US content.

Interesting that there are complaints from literally all over the world about people not being able to access US Netflix with a VPN anymore, and yet you claim you've never had a problem.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

This is a useful link for any subscribers, shows when new additions are made to the Japanese Netflix database (or any other country if you click the flag at the top)

http://netflixjapan.netflixable.com/

0 ( +0 / -0 )

And the Japanese movies do not ft English subtitles.

Yes, I found that. Same with European movies like "Das Boot". It's one major hurdle that has prevented me from fully enjoying Japanese films over the years. English subtitles people!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I prefer the TV-Series of Das Boot vs the Movie, whivh is a digest of it. Common in many movies(USA too) that when Characters speak in their native language there are no subtitles/translations.

In Japanese version everyone speaks Japanese, which is boring to multilingual viewers who can speak many major languages.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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