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Netflix Is Now Available Around the World

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Re: Netflix Is Now Available Around the World

#501

A quick google searches and it seems that I cannot play this content on my TV in any reasonable way (right now the only thing connected to it is a Kodi setup. There are addons to play Netflix content, but they are unofficial and I found a couple different ones, some being forks of others: A mess). Just like Amazon Prime this is something I'd be generally interested in. But I cannot consume the content, at least not a…

"a kodi setup" means what? Do you have an HDMI input on your television? Is there a reason you can not use a chromecast? Apple TV? Roku? Linux PC? Windows PC? Mac PC? chromebook? Amazon Prime HD Stick? Intel Compute stick? an old laptop? a ps4? a ps3? an xbox 360? an xbox one? a wii? a wii u? Many bluray players? I'm genuinely curious what you're running kodi on that can't run netflix.

The sibling is right: For me it's a Pi(2) right now. I'm fine with any box, but expect to have just _one_ box and want a generic thing. Runs Linux, I have full access & control? Fine.

I don't own a console. I don't buy ~special~ hardware (Apple TV, Fire TV etc.) and don't use Chrome at all/see no value in a Chromecast.

So, given a Linux machine connected via HDMI trying to play Netflix seems to be .. gambling. Might work with unofficial clients, probably using Flash? Maybe?

It might be worth trying Netflix, since that's billed monthly, I can use the free first month to fiddle around aimlessly until it might work somehow and when it breaks I'll just cancel. Amazon bills for a year, and since there's no officially supported way for me to use the service I .. won't even try to use that.

Too much effort.

Re: Netflix Is Now Available Around the World

#502

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't approach Netflix as "I want to see this movie so I go here," so much as "I want to watch something, so I'll pick from here." I'm never lacking a choice to watch, even with fairly specific criteria in mind. If I know exactly what I want to watch (and don't get lucky enough to find it on Amazon/Netflix/Hulu) I pay for PPV. I don't expect magic for <$10/mo, especially when the going rate for a one-off viewing is…

> I'm never lacking a choice to watch, even with fairly specific criteria in mind. Do you mean that you get that content on Netflix? Or where do you watch? At this point I'm fairly certain that I won't be able to find any movie from the list of things I'm interested in on Netflix. On Amazon maybe a few, for separate payment, which would be fine but half of their films don't offer the original audio track and instead…

I mean it's pretty rare I wander into Netflix with the intention of spending time on watching something (not a specific show/movie) and don't find anything I want to watch.

I agree that if you have something specific in mind and don't already know it's on Netflix, you more likely than not won't find it. But I knew that going in, and never expected that to be the case in the first place.

Re: Netflix Is Now Available Around the World

#503
post #207

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Not everyone is happy to use CREDIT card. You can get a gift card that is top up. Some large shopping centers and shop chains offer them. They will have Visa or Mastercard logo and can be used as regular CC.

It is safer to use a credit card because if you get scammed on a debit card, you can kiss goodbye to your money. If you get scammed on a credit card, it is the lender's responsibility.

Once you get a hold of some online transactions, you will learn how to stay safe. Its not that hard, its just common sense. And the rule applies - if it is too good to be true, it probably is.

Re: Netflix Is Now Available Around the World

#504

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Until recently I could watch it using my VPN from Hong Kong, but recently they've been blocking access from VPNs. I should set up my own VPN again, instead of using paid for services. Edit: I can't decide if that's a good or bad thing, given I've never paid for a UK TV licence, but for official purposes I still live at my parents' house, who do pay.

You need to get a better VPN my friend - mine still works!

Its expressvpn, and I just (accidentally) paid for another year.

Re: Netflix Is Now Available Around the World

#505

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Until recently I could watch it using my VPN from Hong Kong, but recently they've been blocking access from VPNs. I should set up my own VPN again, instead of using paid for services. Edit: I can't decide if that's a good or bad thing, given I've never paid for a UK TV licence, but for official purposes I still live at my parents' house, who do pay.

You could spin up a DigitalOcean droplet in the London region around once a week and use youtube-dl to download the bits you're interested in. Cost would be like $0.10 per month. You could even make a script that sets up an OpenVPN droplet and automatically tears it down, would still be very very cheap.

I ran openvpn on digital ocean before.

But then I wanted one in the UK sometimes, and in the US sometimes.

And then I tried to watch HKTV from Taiwan, so needed one in HK.

So I ended up with ExpressVPN.

But... let's see what happens this year. Especially with netflix!

Re: Netflix Is Now Available Around the World

#506

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe it'll force Hollywood to pay actors far far less. Harrison Ford was paid somewhere between 10 and 25 million (probably towards the lower end of that scale). Flipping the question a little bit, how do you justify paying actors 40 million for a movie if they're being streamed online for $5 a pop? I'm of the belief that the better actors are paid far too much and that releasing cinema to streaming services will co…

Wow, $43 (or even $23) is crazy. I just checked, in my city (in Germany) Star Wars costs 13€ (AU$20), and that's the English version in 3D with shutter glasses. "Normal" movies (no 3D, no excess length) are 7-8€ (AU$11-12.50). That's like... half of what you pay. Is Australia generally that expensive? :O

$43 is for a VIP type experience - smaller number of big reclining arm chairs, food and drinks delivered to your seat throughout the movie, etc. Similar to the difference between an economy and business class seat on an airline.

At the big-chain theatre that I saw Star Wars, the "standard" price for a non-3D movie is $19.50. However it's very easy to get discounted prices for any movie. I paid $12.50 for my ticket, booked it online a few minutes before I left home.

I'm quite sure that the extra dollars paid for the $43 movie ticket was going to the movie theatre, not Hollywood.

Re: Netflix Is Now Available Around the World

#507

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If movies were to transition into the Steam model where the cost is brought down but has higher reach, the gross is going to go down, and so should the marketing and actor budgets of such films. Why would they? Why would a studio decide to reduce their gross and therefore their net by going with a less profitable model? Streaming services that offer these kinds of movies at release date I think will bring the whole s…

> Why would they? Why would a studio decide to reduce their gross and therefore their net by going with a less profitable model? I don't think the bigger ones will in the short to medium term. But if the gross is lower, then they're also paying less to actors and marketers (streaming services will "freely" market what they think will be popular titles), reducing the overall budget, and reducing the risk profile. The…

I don't think the bigger ones will in the short to medium term.

At some point, in the distant future, it's likely that movie distribution will be radically changed. PPV and streaming from day 1 but that's highly unlikely.

For that to happen, alternate means of distribution would need to be more profitable for the studios than the status quo. If movie attendance drops enough that it will bring in more money to partner with Netflix, Hulu or some as of yet uninvented streaming service; then and only then will it happen.

We already have the straight to video model for small budget films and Mockbusters. For those, it makes sense. They are made on limited budgets because the producers know that there's never going to be a theatrical release and the target market is very narrow.

There's also the wrinkle that digital projectors have lowered the cost of releasing a film. There are no longer film prints to produce, quality control, deliver, track and pickup.

It might happen one day but no time soon.

A similar analogy that works in my favour is Steam as a distribution channel, undercutting physical disk distributors. Games became a lot cheaper, but the AAA titles still ask for and receive quite a high price comparatively.

I can't help but notice that GOG came along and started selling classic games at even lower prices than Steam and ever since, I have seen some excellent Steam sales.

Re: Netflix Is Now Available Around the World

#508

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I believe this is exactly right. And all the things that gave networks monopoly power (like spectrum ownership) will become irrelevant. You can mark the day this happens when NetFlix starts offering a daily 'news' update type program. Of course most people see this already, and the extreme tactics around last mile broadband are exactly around this problem. Netflix can't work if their packets can't get to you, and the…

News is a money-loser unless you're MSNBC or Fox or Maury Povich. They'd be smart to let others handle same-day content.

It's a money loser in itself, but perhaps it improves the overall product.

One thing I miss, since giving up cable, is instant content. I could turn the TV on and start watching something, before choosing to watch something else.

Now I turn on the TV and I'm immediately faced with the paradox of choice. If the news was just there, playing in the background while I browsed my other options, I would love this. It's something that would differentiate Netflix and keep me paying for their service.

Re: Netflix Is Now Available Around the World

#510

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Australia has 2467, in case anyone else was curious. [Though I really wish I could access some of the German language library directly from my Australian subscription.]

You might try using a VPN. I used to work for a VPN provider. This was the main reason our customers used our service.

Yup, I do use a VPN occasionally. I'm not sure if Netflix Germany / rights-holders get paid correctly if I login with my Australian account though, so I try not to do it often... if I knew everyone was getting paid I'd do it a lot more often!
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