How Netflix differs from country to country

How Netflix differs from country to country

With its on-demand service being regularly accessed in more than 200 countries around the world, Netflix is easily the biggest player in the online streaming sphere. Since its initial launch in 1997, the catalogue of television shows and movies it offers has enabled Netflix to penetrate many global markets and change the consumption habits of millions of people.

Using Netflix, people essentially have the world’s top entertainment options readily available on the likes of a mobile phone device and a television. All it takes is a few seconds to load up the application and users can utilize an extensive selection of content from a wide variety of different genres, be it documentaries on cat killers, comedies on dysfunctional families, and action movies featuring brave fathers.

With Netflix’s global reach has come a differing service in specific countries around the world. For example, things are generally different in the US and Europe on the whole anyway, from the side of the use of the metric and imperial systems to the different roulette wheel layout variations to the slang words people use, therefore making it entirely understandable why our viewing habits might differ from country to country also. We’re all the same, but we aren’t when it comes to our entertainment preferences, are we?

America is where the platform is at its best

Given the different tastes around the world, it’s only normal to see the service being adapted depending on the country. Where the service is at its fullest, though, is in America. In fact, the American Netflix catalogue is far more detailed than its offering in other countries. In the US, at the time of writing, there are 1,157 TV shows and 4,593 movies that are regularly consumed. Compared to Australia, it’s a stark contrast, with an Aussie audience able to access 445 TV shows and just under 1600 movies. Japanese viewers have 405 television shows to get through, while there’s 1360 movies on offer. In the UK, Netflix offers 542 TV shows and 2425 movies, while in Canada there are 629 TV shows to tuck into and 2942 movies to watch. Americans certainly have it the best.

Why does Netflix share different content around the world?

Alongside the aforementioned differing viewing tastes from country to country, there is another factor at play as to why Netflix shows different content in each location. One such factor is regarding piracy, with many studios which produce television shows and movies teaming up with services like Netflix to help combat piracy as people cannot copy movies from these types of on-demand services and then sell them on DVD. Given its all-round service, Netflix is therefore a safe haven for production companies to host their latest creations, although the market differs from country to country. For instance, an independent British and Irish movie might not appeal to a French audience. Likewise, a Japanese production might not win over audiences in Australia. As a result of this, when a production is complete, studios can request that their movie or television show is aired in specific countries, essentially making it a supply and demand scenario as a result.

People are regularly finding ways to overcome Netflix’s area restrictions

Despite the different packages available in certain countries around the world, users are manipulating Netflix’s regions by using a VPN. Virtual Private Networks enable users to alter their IP addresses by borrowing one from a specific location around the world, therefore allowing them to access the Netflix service in that territory. For example, someone in America can use a VPN to essentially transport themselves to Australia and then access Netflix in Australia from there.