Netflix started blocking users in Australia from watching U.S.-only content, and it's only the beginning.
The streaming media company stirred great controversy recently with its plans to crack down on VPNs, essentially enforcing geo-restricted content. This means that the media available on Netflix varies by country, with some luckier than others, and Netflix is blocking ways to go around it.
While Netflix users in the United States enjoy a wide pool of content, those in other markets only get a fraction of that trove. This led many to use VPNs or other similar means to hack their way to U.S. content on Netflix.
VPN providers promised a bypass to overcome this issue, but Netflix is apparently getting its way in the meantime.
In Australia, uFlix is a popular paid service that allows users to change their IP address and DNS settings so they could access entertainment content available abroad.
Paying uFlix customers were able to get the U.S. Netflix content, but no more. As uFlix reports, Netflix already started blocking some users from viewing its U.S. videos, or any other non-Australian content, for that matter.
"You seem to be using an unblocker or proxy. Please turn off any of these services and try again," reads the message displayed to Australian uFlix users.
According to uFlix, only a few users are affected for now, but more are expected to experience the same issues soon. Netflix is serious about restricting content based on location, and will move forward with its efforts to enforce it.
Paying a monthly Neftlix subscription to get only a handful of good shows doesn't really sound like a good deal. Understandably, non-U.S. users feel that Netflix is ripping them off and services such as uFlix were the way out.
While this currently affects Australian users, the issue has a greater extent. Netflix will soon expand these practices in more countries until all markets get geo-restricted access to its content.
It's not a matter of if Netflix will block more non-U.S. users from viewing U.S.-only content, it's a matter of when.
Unless it wants to start bleeding customers, Netflix has to come up with a better offer for its international users.
