Globalizing Generation Netflix

Netflix’s CEO, Reed Hastings recently had a lot to say on the ongoing problem of “VPN Piracy”, and piracy in general.

“The VPN thing is a small little asterisk compared to piracy,”  “Piracy is really the problem around the world.”

“The basic solution is for Netflix to get global and have its content be the same all around the world so there’s no incentive to [use a VPN]. Then we can work on the more important part which is piracy,” 

“The key thing about piracy is that some fraction of it is because [users] couldn’t get the content. That part we can fix. Some part of piracy however is because they just don’t want to pay. That’s a harder part. As an industry, we need to fix global content,” 

Hastings has hit the nail on the head with his statements. I’ve written about Piracy in the industry before, and a have admitted, freely, that I do pirate content I can’t find legally. Now, what would a uniform Netflix mean – other than the same content in every country? A lot. It would mean that the people resposible for making the shows and films would be getting their share of revenue from the deals. Sure, it’s fine me paying my 6 pounds a month to UK Netflix, and then circumventing the region locking with a VPN, Chrome Extension, etc but unless the show I’m watching is ON the UK version, no one involved will see a dime.

It’s also been proven that piracy dramtically decreases in countries that have Netflix. So what’s the problem? Why would studios and networks not jump at the chance to make more money? Advertisers for starters. Television, particularly Network television, gets their money by selling commerical time during their shows. This happens in all countries where tv shows are picked up, and their thinking is why whould Coke pay top dollar to advertise during a new episode of Modern Family when it’s been readily available on Netflix for months, possibly years? Well, they won’t. But they will pay something. And what networks/studios fail to remember, or realize, is what they may lose in on air advertising revenue they will make up for in payed subscription revenue.

For the vast majority of people that pirate, or use VPNs to watch locked content, they do it beacuse of they have no other option.  Piracy is rampant because, as Hastings said, content isn’t readily available. If you aren’t given the option to pay for something, why should you worry about pirating it? My train of thought for piracy is: Can I watch it here in the UK? NO. Can I buy it on Amazon’s digital market? NO. Can I watch it on Netfix? NO. Can I watch it on [Insert Network’s name here]’s website? NO. Well, I’ve just gone through 1, 2, 3, 4!!!! portals, and been denied at every corner. So.. Pirate Bay it is.  People who pirate shows and films are saavy. They will be up on the latest news, and pop culture and they want to watch the new Game Of Thrones episode before spoilers appear on social media. (And I’m sorry – it’s NOT easy to avoid them I don’t care what you say. Industry sites have been known to put up spoilers from the previous night’s episodes, so don’t even argue with me on that.) So why not make it easier for those people to watch? Either you take their money for online viewing, or you don’t. The people that are willing to wait, or aren’t that bothered about seeing a show as soon as it premieres, are the market you will capture on selling to networks abroad.  All bases covered. You have no excuses.

Global rights has been done a  number of times, and very successfully. Just look at Netflix originals Orange Is The New Black, or The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, or the reboot of Arrested Development. All of those were available on ALL Netflix platforms on the same day, and none of them seem to have suffered because of it. AMC has also managed to pave the way with it’s show Better Call Saul. That show airs on Monday nights in America, and by Tuesday is available to watch on UK Netflix. BOOM! Shut the front gate, it’s possible. Someone tell the higher ups.

At the end of the day will a universal Netflix solve all the piracy woes? Nope. But it’s a great start. Once this goes through, and I am confident it will at some point, that lays the ground work for things such as HULU – which is currently only available in the US – to open up to the rest of the world, and since a good majority of current shows are on Hulu that will mean another MASSIVE victory for everyone in the industry. AND, of course,  the fans!

Just remember Hollywood, most people aren’t out to rip you off, we just don’t want to be dicated to about what we can watch, and when. If a new show or film is out with someone I love, I will find a way to watch it. Legally, or not. So why not just open up the check out counter and take my fucking money already.