Streaming video is an increasing global business. But if you think the experience and cost of streaming movies and TV shows abroad is the same as in the U.S.
, think again. Consumers in the U.S.
and Canada account for 84 million of the 278 million subscribers paying for Netflix every month around the world. Netflix says its service is available in more than 190 countries, with such exceptions as China and Russia, making its reach about as broad as it could get. Others are trying to catch up by expanding internationally.
Disney+ has a huge footprint. Warner Bros. Discovery’s Max has launched in 65 countries.
In contrast, Walt Disney Co.’s Hulu and Comcast’s Peacock remain primarily domestic operations. The global streamers have found success by investing in local-language shows.
Sometimes, as with South Korea’s “Squid Game” and Spain’s “Money Heist,” those shows can break the subtitle barrier to cross over into global hits. So what else are people watching around the world and how much are they paying? VpnMentor, a firm that specializes in online privacy and internet security, recently gathered global data on streaming platform subscribers and the amount of content being offered. VPNs — or virtual private networks — allow internet users to establish web connections through remote servers, often in international countries.
Streaming aficionados can use these networks to access streaming services’ foreign content libraries, which sometimes offer stuff they.