Ask HN: Why Can't I Watch SouthPark in English in Germany?

1 points by jimothyhalpert7 6 years ago | 7 comments

Feel free to finish the probable-manager's sentence: "No, we should make it German only, because..."

It's a general question about the reasons behind original providers limiting user's choice. Feel free to use other platforms and countries.

Tomte 6 years ago |

...we bought the rights to distribute in a huge package with dozens or even hundreds of shows, and apart from a few special-interest titles (GoT, TBBT etc.), demand for English-language programming is pretty low. We're certainly not paying double price so that a few thousand users can watch one of their favorite shows in English.

jimothyhalpert7 6 years ago | |

Right, ok. So, SouthPark's parent company has to pay for being able to stream the original, English version on their website? (just clarifying what distribution rights means in this case) Is there any way to justify such practice, from a utilitarian perspective of a net-benefit for society?

Tomte 6 years ago | | |

I assumed you mean something like Netflix. At first I even thought you were talking about television.

mtmail 6 years ago |

I'd turn the question around and ask why in Germany TV shows shouldn't be broadcasted in German.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dubbing_(filmmaking)#Germany,_... "According to a European study, Austria is the country with the highest rejection rate (more than 70 percent) of subtitles, followed by Italy, Spain and Germany"

jimothyhalpert7 6 years ago | |

The question is about removing the option to watch it in the original.

jimothyhalpert7 6 years ago |

Also, am I correct in the assumption that U.S. doesn't have access to non-dubbed versions of foreign series?