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Comment by nothrabannosir | Hacker News Reader

I never used either, so I'm genuinely curious: what does Netflix lack, from that list?

Availability and content. I'd be very happy to use Netflix if a) it were available around here* b) if it provided the same selection as in the US

*: random country in the EU

As somebody in the same predicament and locale, I often find myself wondering whether it is any less objectionable to rent a VPN connection through the States.

I'm pretty sure the problem wouldn't be the VPN but rather the payment. Iirc they only accept US based credit cards/paypal for Netflix US. I researched it briefly a while back before Netflix was available here.

It's not impossible to get around but getting a CC from another country and the like quickly leads to pretty shady websites.

I pay for US Netflix with my German credit card each month, it is charged in US dollar.

I've done the same thing. Used a VPN to access Netflix US in Britain, for some newer BBC stuff that I've already contributed to through the license fee...

This 1000x. iPlayer is lauded, and generally works well, but it has incredibly restrictive, short term availability of content entirely paid for by taxpayers.

It is unclear how anyone in the UK can benefit from TV programmes removed from this service, or WHY any content for which the BBC doesn't have permanent distribution rights (via iPlayer) should ever be funded or produced by the BBC.

That could be illegal. Check the terms & conditions. You might as well pirate if you're going to break the law.

Breaking ToC is not the same as breaking the law.

Nothing, but it does gain another thing - text saying "I'm sorry, not available where you live." Which is kind of a dealbreaker.

Netflix has a very limited, poor selection of content. Every single movie I've tried to watch on Netflix in the past month hasn't been available for streaming.

I very much enjoyed Netflix while staying with family in the US. In Belgium, however, the available content is so limited that it's just not worth it. Not even Friends, Simpsons, X-Files, nothing.

I don't know the details, but this could be due to local TV stations buying exclusivity for this content in your country.

You have to wait 3 months after a movie has been released to DVD for it to even have a chance of being on Netflix to "help encourage" DVD sales.

Breadth of content? Otherwise, Netflix is pretty solid.

Netflix has very little content and isn't available everywhere.

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