What Are My Options For Vod Via The Internet In The Los? Hulu+ & Netflix Are Out! :-(

[BKS22]

As some of you know I am moving to Thailand in approx. 45 days.Upon arriving I'm not in any hurry to get a TV and cable. But occasionally it would be nice to watch some programming online. I've been doing a bit of research as to what video on demand websites I might be able to watch some of my favorite series like Breaking Bad and Sons of Anarchy, as well as some movies on my laptop.

I have called and spoken to Customer Service at Hulu+, Netflix, and Amazon Prime, and what I have found is that even though these are just web based sites where you log into an account, for some reason they don't allow or have viewership rights to show any of their material in Thailand. I really don't understand why and I feel I'm running out of options.

Any suggestions??? Thanks in advance,

B-

[LivinLOS]

You will find almost all of the good premium content, for paid streaming access, will be IP blocked / geo restricted. thats just how it is with content agreements.

Your choices are to simply steal the content, via torrents and the like. Or use a paid VPN service to appear to be in the country you wish to use the services of. This is fairly inexpensive and does work but you need a decent net connection. Discussion of this topic beyond the outlines is illegal and not for this forum. Google VPN and read a little.

I find even with a good net connection, streaming is hit and miss for me (using a VPN) and hence prefer to download cache and playback from local file storage, Also means I can download highdef and have a better picture than the streaming services I can use. Once 20Mbit kind of net becomes more common, and I doubt thats too far off, then streaming fullHD with multichannel audio is more of an option. Depending on the service and if it allows local caching of files you have different experiences.

May help to also buy and bring any US style set top boxes, like Boxee etc.. As they are usually import only here and cost lots more.

[BKS22]

You will find almost all of the good premium content, for paid streaming access, will be IP blocked / geo restricted. thats just how it is with content agreements.

Your choices are to simply steal the content, via torrents and the like. Or use a paid VPN service to appear to be in the country you wish to use the services of. This is fairly inexpensive and does work but you need a decent net connection. Discussion of this topic beyond the outlines is illegal and not for this forum. Google VPN and read a little.

I find even with a good net connection, streaming is hit and miss for me (using a VPN) and hence prefer to download cache and playback from local file storage, Also means I can download highdef and have a better picture than the streaming services I can use. Once 20Mbit kind of net becomes more common, and I doubt thats too far off, then streaming fullHD with multichannel audio is more of an option. Depending on the service and if it allows local caching of files you have different experiences.

May help to also buy and bring any US style set top boxes, like Boxee etc.. As they are usually import only here and cost lots more.

Appreciate the reply LivinLOS. A real bummer about the content agreements. I will do some research as you mentioned on the VPN.

In the mean time...can you recommend where you like to download cache for playback purposes from? Are you using only torrent sites? Feel free to PM me if more acceptable.

TIA,

B-

[HahSipBaht]

Like LivingLOS mentioned, you will require a VPN in order to access any subscription services like Netflix and Hulu which are region blocked.

Although those are missing, I've recently found another service that has eased my boredom. If you google "Youtube Episodes YTE" you will find the site.

[LivinLOS]

I find I dont actually watch a lot of broadcast TV any more.. And what I do is mostly news feeds, CNBC and bloomberg etc..

I tend to like tinkering with my setup and am from the UK so access iPlayer a fair bit.. I also sometimes use 4oD and Sky Go as family in the UK have sky packages.

Other than that I download a lot of documentaries / nature / factual TV... Google MVGroup for a superb site.

Then mainstream TV series / films / etc are easy with torrents.

The only one I have a struggle with are 'live' sports.. I find streaming live streams, even with a pretty fast connection, to be sub par.. I hate buffering or signal losses and even with a good fast international 5Mbit measured speed a lot of the time, these seem to still happen (possibly an interaction with the VPN) because I would rather wait and watch something perfectly a little later if it wont cache my end (live streams from the BBC wont download) I tend to avoid it.. 6 nations rugby thats poorly covered with True is the last time I was doing this.

Between these techniques, really theres so much content, you would have to be a major TV junkie to not have enough to watch. Small investments into media players, XBMC boxes, and stuff like that makes it much more user friendly.

[negreanu]

tunlr.net - your most welcome

[yougivemebaby]

I need to find the source but there is a new router out that deals directly with the problem of buffering for websites like hulu. It's in the $100 range and does it automatically with out extra set up.

[BKS22]

tunlr.net - your most welcome

OK! This has potential! Thank you negreanu

Now I just have to hope that the 4Mbps my apartment complex is saying they can provide me for 700bht a month is some what accurate. *crosses fingers*

I need to find the source but there is a new router out that deals directly with the problem of buffering for websites like hulu. It's in the $100 range and does it automatically with out extra set up.

Yes definitely worth looking into. Sounds like it could be what negreanu suggested above yes?