Netflix restricts access to programming from other countries
The online video service Netflix restricts its users' access to movies and TV shows from other countries. Netflix must negotiate the rights to programming for different regions individually, which is why the selection varies, sometimes significantly, from country to country.
Some customers get around this by using VPN services (Virtual Private Network), for example, which make Netflix think that the user is from another country. The program from the US offer is especially popular. Now Netflix announced that access via such services will be blocked in the coming weeks. Users will then only be able to watch programming from their actual country of origin. While the goal remains for customers in all countries to be able to watch the same movies and series, it said in a blog post late Thursday. But there is still a long way to go.
Available in 190 countries
Netflix was launched in 130 more countries in one fell swoop last week. The service is now available in a total of 190 countries. The only relevant market missing so far is China. Some Chinese have also been able to access Netflix via VPN services, and the company recently added Chinese-language programs to its lineup. Netflix CEO Reed Hastings has often said that the international rights network is very tangled and that this is one of the reasons why the service is increasingly focusing on producing its own films and series. Netflix could then show this content everywhere at the same time. (SDA)
