Why many sites and services are state or region restricting

[Sheep221]

I don't get why this happens so often lately, especially with multimedia, broadcasting, dating sites, some online stores and more, that they restrict access only to visitors from some specific region. Isn't it kind of wrong and discriminating? If I put something on the net it means it's for everyone. Or at least I never understood these policies. And I'm pissed off by this quite often.

Anyone has a valid explanation why it happens or has the same problem?

...using proxies and VPNs most of the time wont work and if yes than the redirected internet connection is really slow

 

[Newbian]

Because only the states are cool enough to use them.

That and legal issues so blame your countries laws for preventing them from working.

 

[IronWing]

If the site owners have no intention of selling products/services in your area there is no reason for them to waste their bandwidth providing pages to your area.

 

[ElFenix]

for regions: media rights holders are attempting to extract more money out of people who are more able/willing to pay. it's similar to how an airplane ticket at the counter right before the flight costs more: anyone buying at the counter likely really needs to get on that plane and so is much more likely to pay the higher price (or how weekend stayovers net you a lower price: you're much less likely to be a business traveler if you have a weekend stayover and so less willing to pay a higher price).

 

[Red Squirrel]

I always found it was stupid as well, but it's usually some stupid political BS reason. For example apparently Netflix here sucks without using a proxy of sorts. Lot of media sites are the same way, like when people link to stuff on the comedy network for example, it wont work from here. If I really want to see it, I need to use a proxy. But normally I just don't bother, and they lost potential ad revenue.

It makes no financial sense to restrict an internet website as ad revenue is ad revenue, no matter where it comes from.

 

[Aluvus]

Media distribution rights are negotiated on a country-by-country or regional basis, to allow for pricing that varies by region and for the use of different distributors in different regions (since historically, most distributors have not had global distribution capabilities).

Services like Netflix block people from countries where they do not have such agreements, because they legally can't serve the content.

In some cases there may be additional limitations, eg some countries have anti-blasphemy laws and other laws that limit certain kinds of content.

 

[StrangerGuy]

Remember that "I am your father" scene in Star Wars that everyone who aren't not living under a rock know about? Fox blocked that on Youtube.

That's just depraved regardless of the legal shit involved.

 

[mmntech]

Media distribution rights are negotiated on a country-by-country or regional basis, to allow for pricing that varies by region and for the use of different distributors in different regions (since historically, most distributors have not had global distribution capabilities).

Services like Netflix block people from countries where they do not have such agreements, because they legally can't serve the content.

In some cases there may be additional limitations, eg some countries have anti-blasphemy laws and other laws that limit certain kinds of content.

This. Canada for example has Canadian content and ownership laws regarding media, which is why it's rare to see a US network operate here unrestricted. Only US OTA stations air in Canada through subscription TV.

Normally this isn't too big an issue. For broadcast TV, there's usually a Canadian alternative to US specialty channels. In the case of Netflix though, you're basically paying full price for a sub-par version of the service due to licensing. Which is why a lot of Canadians use DNS and VPN services to bypass regional restrictions. The same thing happened with satellite TV before Canadian cable matured. Got the Liberal government at the time all hot and bothered. Grey market satellite was made to be a big cultural boogieman.

Mind you things have changed a great deal since then, since CanCon has exploded with the internet and Canadian shows have found a nice niche south of the border. So restrictions on content are starting to become less relevant.

 

[Crono]

Regional advertising doesn't pay for outside that region. So you have added costs but no revenue coming from people outside that region.

 

[olds]

... some online stores...

Who?

 

[Sheep221]

On other side I was thinking about all that legal stuff and I don't see it as the valid reason they are excusing restrictions with.
For example alot of US shows and videos are blocked in EU, Canada and Australia, though I don't see how it has to be resolved from legal point, these countries are no different in terms of content censorship or advertising. Everything american is legally allowed in europe and so on. If you are connected from different region you get ads for that region, it's really that simple without interrupting revenue of site operators. Ad networks are worldwide in fact.

Who?

The newegg, microcenter and some other hardware retail chains don't ship outside continental US.

 

[CPA]

On other side I was thinking about all that legal stuff and I don't see it as the valid reason they are excusing restrictions with.
For example alot of US shows and videos are blocked in EU, Canada and Australia, though I don't see how it has to be resolved from legal point, these countries are no different in terms of content censorship or advertising. Everything american is legally allowed in europe and so on. If you are connected from different region you get ads for that region, it's really that simple without interrupting revenue of site operators. Ad networks are worldwide in fact.

The newegg, microcenter and some other hardware retail chains don't ship outside continental US.

Someone mentioned it above, it's government control. They own the airwaves, and just lease them to the broadcasters. The broadcasters then use the government to stymy competition from other countries by putting in laws forbidding the broadcasting of those foreign networks. Why do you think Directv was banned in Canada for a while? Government didn't want competition against the Canada cable companies.

 

[slayer202]

$
12

 

[Gintaras]

Someone mentioned it above, it's government control. They own the airwaves, and just lease them to the broadcasters. The broadcasters then use the government to stymy competition from other countries by putting in laws forbidding the broadcasting of those foreign networks. Why do you think Directv was banned in Canada for a while? Government didn't want competition against the Canada cable companies.

If some sites can not be accessed(or banned) in some countries, let's say, in China - then it's a human rights violations....

 

[Sheep221]

Someone mentioned it above, it's government control. They own the airwaves, and just lease them to the broadcasters. The broadcasters then use the government to stymy competition from other countries by putting in laws forbidding the broadcasting of those foreign networks. Why do you think Directv was banned in Canada for a while? Government didn't want competition against the Canada cable companies.

Pretty retarded tho, it's funny because US shows are broadcast in TV in EU, but you can't watch the episodes again online because you are connected outside US.
I remember before, internet was truly free, seems every year the net neutrality is decreasing and more services and sites determining your location to change your experience or block you from content.

 

[jagec]

Remember that "I am your father" scene in Star Wars

Dude, SPOILER TAGS.