As are so many other VOD services, and networks.
If you haven’t heard already, HBO announced Wednesday that they will be launching a streaming service that doesn’t require a cable subscription. Wow, sounds great right? Not if you live outside of America. (It’s already been stated they have no plans to bring it to Europe – so thanks for that.)
CBS, just today, launched CBS.com All Access. For $5.99 a month you have access to all CBS owned channels, as well as past shows, and even classic shows. DAMN! That sounds great! And there’s also a free one week trial, just to sweeten the deal.
Out of interest I signed up for this one week free trial. (Hey, I’m willing to pay if there’s good things on offer). To my surprise I was able to set up an account using my Canadian home address (HUZZAH!)… then. It happened. I had to input my billing address details. I filled it all in… came to State.. Hmm.. no. I said I was Canadian. Maybe they’ve put Ontario in with the states – they sometimes do that. Hmmm… nope. No Provinces. After a few moments of thinking I had actually put America by accident, I investigated my account details. Nope. I clearly put Canada.
So, basically it comes down to CBS will lull you into a false sense of security if you live in Canada, or Australia – and then BAM! Kick you in the shins and push you into the gutter.
I’m not sure what’s worse? Just flat out being denied a service I’m willing to pay for, or thinking that I can get a service to then have it hastily snatched away from me…
The point I’m trying to make is this: There are people outside of America that want to watch your shows. Have you not realized this yet? What? I’m sorry, I can’t hear your answer over you CONSTANT moaning about piracy.
Piracy doesn’t exist because people are unwilling to pay for stuff. It exists because you won’t LET us pay for stuff. If CBS, HBO, and all the other major networks and studios (hell the networks are all pretty much owned by film studios) got together and made a huge global Netflix/Hulu mash up – you’d be coining it in!
People want to watch, what they want to watch, when they want to watch it. Just because you live in Europe, or Australia, or Canada (um, it’s right above guys!) doesn’t mean you should have to wait for all the big shows to air there. Think about it, Game of Thrones is the most downloaded show EVER! That isn’t because we don’t want to pay for HBO – it’s not even offered here in Britain – it’s because we don’t want to wait six months and have everything spoiled for us by social media AND industry sites. Yes – Industry Sites contain spoilers, and it’s a bastard.
Come on Hollywood, step up your game or I’ll be forced to continue downloading your shit.
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