China seems to be making it difficult for businesses from the United States to successfully and smoothly operate. Few months ago, Uber exited China, and Apple is finding it difficult to find its foot in the country.
Now, news has emerged that Netflix has given up launching in China after several attempts. This arguably makes China, Crimea, North Korea and Syria the countries where Netflix, which launched globally earlier this year, is not available.
Netflix had told their shareholders that it will rather sell its show to Chinese Media companies rather than launching in the country.
The online streaming company said: “The regulatory environment for foreign digital content services in China has become challenging,” the report read. We now plan to license content to existing online service providers in China rather than operate our own service in China in the near term. We still have a long-term desire to serve the Chinese people directly, and hope to launch our service in China eventually.”
Netflix’s problem in China may be as a result the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television (SAPPRFT) “Introduction of the censor first, broadcast later policy requiring Internet companies to employ government censors to stream foreign television programs online.” This policy inadvertently limits or ban foreign content.
