New Zealand Netflix users say they have been cut off from the United States television streaming service. Well the service was never officially offered in New Zealand many residents had found 3rd party work around like Slingshot.
Slingshot spokesman Quentin Reade said the internet provider believed Netflix had made some changes to its systems, preventing access by some New Zealanders.
“Something upstream from our network was changed, that’s all I can confirm,” he said.
Netflix blocking access to locations where they do not have rights is nothing new. The so called “GEO-Blocking” is well known and a whole industry to get around it has been built. Slingshot provides one such option as do many other VPN and DNS services like Unblock-US.
Many New Zealanders loved Netflix as it gave them access to many US shows before they became available on local TV. Often long before they would become available on DVD on download.
This battle has been going on for years. Recently Hulu blocked VPN and DNS services. Some services like Unblock-US had a work around in just hours. We expect the same thing here.
“Netflix has made a change. I think we have got a solution for many customers,” said Reads. When Slingshot introduced Global Mode, Telecommunications Users Association chief executive Paul Brislen said he believed it was probably only a matter of time before Hollywood interests responded.
Reade said Slingshot did not say whether Netflix was trying to enforce “GEO-Blocking” restrictions and prevent its service being accessed outside North America or whether the issues were unrelated to that possible goal.
Netflix did not respond to a request for comment.