Australians Who Use Getflix, Unlock.us and Unotelly To Stream Game of Thrones, US-Only TV Shows May be Cut Off By HBO Now On April 21
United States’ premium satellite television and cable network HBO informed many Australians they will soon be lopped off from watching TV shows including Game of Thrones beginning April 21. But HBO’s singling out is exclusive to those who capitalise on geo-blocking circumvention tools in sneaking into HBO Now video streaming service exclusively available to the United States’ population.
Reports about HBO singling out the Aussies emerged when HBO emails leaked and revealed that Sony Pictures complained to Netflix for the latter's stubbornness in preventing Australians and other audience from sneaking into HBO. Such news was further bolstered as the Australian government is determined in implementing an anti-piracy administration.
Australians who received the email were being told that it has come to HBO’s attention that they may have signed up for and viewed video content on HBO Now streaming service from outside of the authorised service area, which includes D.C. and some US territories. The email continued to remind that HBO Now streaming service is exclusive only to residents of the United States and for use within the United States. And for that, access to HBO Now streaming service from outside the US is prohibited by its terms of use.
The email concluded with caution that should HBO not receive any response from the recipient, it will automatically deactivate accounts beginning next week. Users who received the e-mail confessed they used Unotelly, Unlock.us or Getflix in accessing HBO Now, Sydney Morning Herald reports.
Gateway service providers such as Getflix provide access to geo-blocked movies and TV shows by circumventing geographic restrictions and making it appear the users are within the United States when in fact, they are in Australia or anywhere else. Some Australians, too, utilised their credit cards in signing up.
Foxtel clarified in a query by Fairfax that HBO grants license content on a territory by territory basis and the action by HBO via email has been carried out to stand by said policy. Should HBO finally deactivate account or cut off audience from watching certain TV shows, the same shall be done to everyone and not just Australians.
Foxtel has been granted rights to air Game of Thrones in Australia first. It is charging audience with $30 per month for the show, which is showed in standard-definition. Others pay $20, including the fee for using geo-blocking circumvention tool such as Getflix, to watch Game of Thrones in high-definition.
Australia recently announced it will combat piracy and allow institutions granted with rights to request certain websites which infringe their copyright to be blocked. There are others who fear the new laws will affect those who legitimately use geo-blocking circumvention service providers and virtual private networks.
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