Netflix negotiating with Beijing to enter China after launching in 130 more markets but will face strict controls on foreign content
Viewers would have to wait till whole seasons wrap up before the mainland censors allow foreign shows to stream online, among other headaches
Streaming pioneer Netflix launched its service in another 130 countries and territories including Hong Kong on Thursday but China remains a tougher nut to crack due to its strict controls on online streaming and foreign content.
Meanwhile, even viewers in Hong Kong expressed their disappointment on social media upon learning that hits including Breaking Bad, House of Cards and Sherlock are not available in the city yet.
In his keynote speech at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week, Netflix chief executive Reed Hastings said the company was hopeful of entering mainland China, the world’s second-largest economy, in the future.
“[There are] a billion Chinese that we want to give access to Netflix content,” Hastings said.
“You need specific permission from the government to operate in China. We are continuing to work on that and we are very patient.”