Canada's Netflix Users Complain as Access to US Service Blocked

Advertisement
By Reuters | Updated: 21 April 2016 10:01 IST
Some Canadian Netflix Inc users cried foul on Wednesday after the video-streaming giant appeared to have made good on its pledge to block access for customers using unauthorised services to view more varied American content.

Canadian customers have access to less content on the service, with one website estimating Canadians could see 4,000 TV shows and movies, compared with 7,000 in the United States.

As a result, some subscribers use proxies or servers that facilitate access to Internet content not available locally.

Netflix said in January it would clamp down on usage of proxies or unblockers. It appeared to have stepped up enforcement over the weekend, with people on social media and online forums reporting mass outages.

Advertisement

A Twitter user with the handle @mrmitchclarke told the streaming service on Wednesday he would stop paying, attaching a screenshot of a Netflix page telling the user payment cannot proceed.

A Twitter user with the handle @Sethalos said the Netflix service available to Canadian users is "terrible."

"So what other choice do you have other than Torrent," he said, referencing BitTorrent, the free peer-to-peer file-sharing protocol that allows illegal movie and TV show downloads.

Advertisement

Netflix's move comes after its forecast of slower subscription growth this quarter, which sent its shares tumbling 8 percent in after-hours trading on Monday.

A Netflix spokeswoman referred to the company's January announcement and Monday's video conference about the company's earnings and declined further comment.

Advertisement

In the earnings call, Netflix Chief Executive Reed Hastings dismissed concerns that the crackdown might affect business.

"It's a very small, but quite vocal minority," Hastings said of the users affected by the crackdown. "It's really inconsequential to us."

Advertisement

Netflix grants unlimited access to its selection of TV shows and movies for a monthly fee and is known for its original shows including Orange is the New Black and House of Cards.

© Thomson Reuters 2016

 

Catch the latest from the Consumer Electronics Show on Gadgets 360, at our CES 2026 hub.

Advertisement

Related Stories

Popular Mobile Brands
  1. Here's When the Realme P4 Power 5G Will Launch in India
  2. iQOO 15R Will Be Launched in India Soon, Company Confirms
  3. JioHotstar Announces Monthly Subscription Plans Across All Tiers
  4. OnePlus 16 May Launch With These Display, Battery and Camera Upgrades
  5. Google Pixel 10a Leak Suggests No Price Hike Over Pixel 9a
  6. Vivo X200T With Zeiss Cameras to Launch in India on This Date
  7. Google Adds New Feature in Gemini App for Providing Quick Replies: Report
  8. Samsung Galaxy A57 Spotted on Certification Site With These Key Features
  9. OneUI 8.5 Beta 4 Could Roll Out Soon With Upgraded Bixby, New Features
  10. Amazon Great Republic Day Sale: Best Deals on Printers Under Rs. 10,000
  1. Nearly All Indian Creators Believe Generative AI Is Powering Their Growth: Adobe Survey
  2. Vivo X200T India Launch Date Announced; Will Feature Dimensity 9400+ SoC, 50-Megapixel Zeiss Cameras
  3. Samsung's Leaked OneUI 8.5 Beta 4 Changelog Hints at Imminent Rollout With Upgraded Bixby, Bug Fixes
  4. Samsung Galaxy A57 TENAA Listing Reveals Key Specifications Ahead of Anticipated Launch
  5. iQOO 15R, iQOO Z11x 5G Listed on Malaysian Certification Website Ahead of Imminent Global Launch
  6. Marathon Releases March 5 Across Steam, PS5, Xbox Series S/X; Pre-Orders Now Live
  7. Realme P4 Power 5G India Launch Date Announced; 10,001mAh Battery Confirmed
  8. OpenAI Will Reportedly Unveil Its First AI Device Later This Year
  9. iQOO 15R Teased to Launch in India Soon; Dual Cameras, Amazon Availability Confirmed
  10. Google Introducing New 'Answer Now' Button in Gemini for Fast Responses: Report
Gadgets 360 is available in
Download Our Apps
Available in Hindi
© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2026. All rights reserved.