Lyla Lindsey
Breaking Bad, a popular American TV series, has been subject to geo-blocking in Australia, with Netflix subscribers in the country unable to access it. This has led to high rates of piracy, with Australians constituting 18% of Torrentfreak's total downloads for the series finale, despite the option to watch legally on Foxtel. The delay in airing and high costs have been cited as reasons for the high piracy rates, with many unwilling to pay $50 a month for Foxtel Play or wait hours for the episode to air in Australia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Is Breaking Bad banned in Australia? | No |
| Is Breaking Bad available on Netflix in Australia? | No |
| Is Breaking Bad available on Foxtel in Australia? | Yes |
| Is Breaking Bad available on ABC2 in Australia? | Yes |
| Is Breaking Bad available on Netflix in New Zealand? | No |
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What You'll Learn
Breaking Bad is unavailable on Netflix Australia
In 2015, Netflix users in Australia and New Zealand reported that Breaking Bad had disappeared from their Netflix accounts. One user commented that they did not think the show had ever been available on Netflix Australia. Another user suggested that someone they lived with might have changed the Netflix country without their knowledge.
In 2013, when the final episode of Breaking Bad aired, Australians were faced with waiting hours and paying a considerable amount of money to watch the series finale. As a result, many Australians illegally downloaded the episode. Viewers with a Foxtel subscription could have watched the final episode at 6:30 pm, four-and-a-half hours after it aired in the US. However, even this minimal delay was an outrage to some fans.
Australians constituted a world-beating 18% of Torrentfreak's total figure for illegal downloads of the Breaking Bad finale. Within 12 hours of the US screening, the episode was illegally downloaded by an estimated 500,000 people internationally, almost one-fifth of whom were from Australia.
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Australians illegally downloaded Breaking Bad
Australians have a well-known reputation for their enthusiasm for torrenting and illegal downloading, and this was particularly evident during the broadcast of the acclaimed television series Breaking Bad. Despite the show's immense popularity and critical acclaim, there were challenges in accessing it legally in Australia due to broadcast rights and distribution deals. This led to a significant portion of the Australian audience turning to illegal downloads to keep up with the show.
At the time of its initial broadcast, Breaking Bad was not readily available on Australian television or streaming services. The show aired on the subscription channel Showcase, which was an additional expense for viewers, and the episodes were not available to stream online afterward. This limited accessibility drove many Australians to seek alternative methods to watch the show, often turning to illegal downloads. Torrenting sites and file-sharing platforms became popular sources for obtaining Breaking Bad episodes.
The issue was exacerbated by the fact that the show gained a massive following and a dedicated fan base worldwide, including in Australia. The desire to join the global conversation and avoid spoilers encouraged many Australians to seek out the show through any means necessary. The time difference between the US and Australian broadcast schedules also played a role, as some fans were unwilling to wait for the local broadcast and opted for illegal downloads to stay up-to-date with the latest episodes.
During the show's original run from 2008 to 2013, illegal downloading was a prevalent issue, and Breaking Bad consistently ranked as one of the most pirated television shows in Australia. In 2013, it was reported that Australia had the third-highest number of illegal downloads per capita for the show, highlighting the significant demand for the series among Australian audiences. This trend continued even after the show's conclusion, as new fans discovered the series and existing fans re-watched it.
The high rates of illegal downloading in Australia prompted discussions and actions regarding copyright infringement. Efforts were made to block torrent websites and raise awareness about the legal consequences of illegal downloading. However, the complex nature of international copyright laws and the challenges of enforcing them in the digital age presented significant obstacles. The situation surrounding Breaking Bad in Australia underscored the need for more accessible and timely distribution models that cater to the demands of modern audiences.
Ultimately, the high rates of illegal downloading of Breaking Bad in Australia reflected a combination of factors, including limited legal access, enthusiastic fan dedication, and the ongoing challenges of enforcing copyright laws in the digital landscape. This situation has influenced the strategies employed by content distributors and streaming services to prevent similar issues from occurring with other popular television shows and has shaped the way Australians access and consume media content.
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The show was available on Foxtel
Breaking Bad, the popular American TV series, was available to stream on Foxtel in Australia. However, viewers had to wait for hours and pay a substantial amount of money to watch the show. Foxtel Play, the cheapest way to watch the show, cost viewers $50 a month, which worked out to $12.50 per episode.
In 2013, when the series finale aired, many Australians chose to illegally download the episode rather than wait for it to be broadcast on Foxtel. Torrentfreak reported that the finale was downloaded by 500,000 people within 12 hours of its US screening, with almost one in five of these downloaders from Australia.
The delay in broadcasting and the high cost of subscriptions led to high piracy rates in Australia. While some viewers were willing to pay for content, they were frustrated by the long wait times and inflexible packaging of channels.
Breaking Bad does not appear to be available on Australian Netflix, although it is available on Netflix in other countries.
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High costs and delays led to piracy
Breaking Bad is not banned in Australia, but it has not always been available on Australian Netflix. In 2015, Netflix users in Australia reported that the show had disappeared from the platform.
The high costs and delays associated with accessing the series through legal channels have been cited as reasons for high piracy rates in Australia. When the series finale aired in 2013, Australians constituted 18% of the total illegal downloads reported by TorrentFreak, with 90,000 downloads within 12 hours of the episode finishing. This was despite the availability of legal options, such as Foxtel, which cost $50 a month or $12.50 per episode.
The delay in airing the finale in Australia meant that viewers had to wait four and a half hours after the show was broadcast on the US west coast to watch it on Foxtel. Even with a VPN to bypass geographical restrictions, viewers would have had to wait until the next morning to watch it on Netflix UK or download it from iTunes.
The high cost and delay in accessing the show through legal channels led many Australians to resort to piracy. As one commentator in The Guardian put it, "it feels like instead of paying for content, Australians are paying to wait – and for as long as the situation persists, piracy rates are not going to decrease."
While piracy may negatively impact content creators and distributors, some industry insiders have suggested that piracy can create a buzz that ultimately leads to more paying subscribers. For example, Game of Thrones director David Petrarca and Time Warner CEO Jess Bewkes have both suggested that piracy can have positive effects on subscription rates.
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Netflix Australia has limited content
There are several reasons for the limited content on Netflix Australia. One reason is that Netflix is now competing in nearly 200 markets worldwide, and other channels, streamers, and SVOD services are bidding for content. As a result, Netflix sometimes gets outbid by competitors. Additionally, Netflix Australia does not have the same streaming services as the US, so some shows are available on different platforms, such as Stan and Foxtel.
Another reason for the limited content is that Netflix Australia has a smaller population and does not generate as much revenue as the US. This may impact the number of shows and movies Netflix can acquire for the Australian market. There is also a steady rise in competing streaming services from third parties or those linked to regular TV networks, further reducing the number of shows and movies available on Netflix Australia.
Some users have expressed disappointment over the limited content on Netflix Australia, especially when compared to the US. However, it is important to note that Netflix Australia still offers a substantial amount of content, including Netflix originals and shows that are not available in the US. Additionally, Netflix Australia has been improving over time, with more shows and movies being added to the catalogue.
While Netflix Australia may not have the same extensive library as the US, it still provides a significant amount of content for subscribers. The limited content is due to various factors, including competition from other streaming services, revenue differences, and broadcasting rights. Overall, Netflix Australia continues to evolve and adapt to meet the needs of its subscribers, despite the challenges of operating in a highly competitive market.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Breaking Bad is not banned in Australia. However, it is not available on Netflix in the country.
Netflix libraries vary by country, and Breaking Bad is not included in Australia's library.
Australians could watch Breaking Bad legally on Foxtel.
Yes, many Australians resorted to illegally downloading Breaking Bad as they did not want to wait several hours and pay a lot of money to watch the series finale.
