TV Shows & Streaming Database — Deep Research Brief, Part 02: International Streaming Platforms and Regional Availability
77 preserved extracts. Research planning document; requested work is not evidence that the work was completed.
- NOTE 3545
TV Shows & Streaming Database — Deep Research Brief, Part 02: International Streaming Platforms and Regional Availability
Research window: January 1, 2019 – September 15, 2026 (with emphasis on the last 24 months). Research date must be stated (this brief drafted September 17, 2026).
- NOTE 3546
TV Shows & Streaming Database — Deep Research Brief, Part 02: International Streaming Platforms and Regional Availability
Conduct exhaustive research on the streaming services, public-broadcaster players, telecom bundles, and local regulations that shape which TV series viewers can watch outside the United States, and on how the same global service offers different catalogs, prices, dubs, and subtitles country by country. The goal is a country-aware platform directory and availability model that lets the website answer "where can I watch this show in my country, in my language, at what price," correctly represent split rights across territories, and explain regional regulation that affects catalogs.
- NOTE 3547
1. How to research this part
Treat every named service, owner, price, law, and date as a lead to verify. Local services launch, merge, and rebrand faster than English-language trades report.
- NOTE 3548
1. How to research this part
Minimum coverage: at least 250 non-U.S. platform records across at least 60 countries; plan and price records for the top 10 services in each of the 25 largest streaming markets; at least 40 regulatory records (law, obligation, threshold, effective date).
- NOTE 3549
1. How to research this part
Prefer local-language primary sources: service plan pages per country, broadcaster annual reports, regulator publications (Ofcom, CRTC, ACMA, Arcom, KCC, MIB India, TRAI, NMHH), European Audiovisual Observatory reports and AVMSD tracker, company filings (e.g., MultiChoice, ProSiebenSat.1, RTL Group, TF1, ITV, Reliance/JioStar, Viaplay Group, CJ ENM). Use machine translation only to locate facts, then confirm names and figures in the original.
- NOTE 3550
1. How to research this part
Record prices in local currency with tax treatment (VAT/GST included or not), plus a separate converted USD value with exchange rate and date. Never store converted values as source prices.
- NOTE 3551
1. How to research this part
Record availability "as of" date per country; global services roll out plan changes country by country.
- NOTE 3552
1. How to research this part
Do not use VPNs to observe foreign catalogs or advise users to evade geo-blocking. Use official country pages, press releases, licensed availability data, and in-country contributors with their own legitimate accounts.
- NOTE 3553
2. Global services: how catalogs differ
For Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max, Apple TV, Paramount+, SkyShowtime, and Crunchyroll: list countries available, launch date per country, plan names and prices per country, ad-tier availability per country (Netflix ads in about 12 markets; verify list), and local originals output by country.
- NOTE 3554
2. Global services: how catalogs differ
Worked example (verify): HBO Max international rollout — Latin America (June 2021), Nordics/Iberia (2021), wider Europe (2022), replaced in some markets by Max (2024), then relaunched as HBO Max (2025–2026) including UK, Germany, and Italy launches after Sky output deals expired (verify dates). Questions: which HBO series remain on Sky/NOW in the UK, and when do those rights end?
- NOTE 3555
2. Global services: how catalogs differ
Worked example (verify): The Office (U.S.) on Peacock in the U.S. vs. Prime Video or Netflix elsewhere; Star Trek: Discovery on Netflix outside the U.S. until 2021 removal; Yellowstone on Peacock (U.S.) vs. Paramount+ internationally; Rick and Morty split between Adult Swim, HBO Max, Netflix, and Crunchyroll in different territories. Use each as a test case for the split-rights model.
- NOTE 3556
2. Global services: how catalogs differ
Why catalogs differ: pre-existing output deals (Sky–HBO, Sky–Showtime, Canal+–HBO), local broadcaster first-window rights, dubbing cost, local ratings certification, quota and prominence obligations, and political or cultural content restrictions (e.g., titles removed in specific Middle Eastern or Asian markets at government request; verify cases).
- NOTE 3557
2. Global services: how catalogs differ
Dubbing and subtitles: record per country the audio languages and subtitle languages offered per title, not per service. Note Netflix's dub catalog depth, Disney+ local dubs, Prime Video's AI-assisted dubbing pilot (2025; verify), and cases where a dub exists in one market but is withheld in another due to rights.
- NOTE 3558
3. UK and Ireland
Public-service broadcasters: BBC iPlayer (licence-fee funded; TV licence required for live and iPlayer), ITVX (launched Dec 2022, replaced ITV Hub; ITVX Premium), Channel 4 streaming (All 4 rebranded "Channel 4" app 2024; verify), 5 (My5 rebranded; verify), STV Player, S4C Clic, RTÉ Player, Virgin Media Player (Ireland).
- NOTE 3559
3. UK and Ireland
Pay services: Sky (Sky Glass, Sky Stream), NOW (Sky's contract-free service; Entertainment and Cinema memberships; ads introduced 2024; verify), BritBox UK (merged into ITVX Premium in 2024; verify), UKTV Play → U (rebrand 2024; verify), Hayu, discovery+ UK, TNT Sports app.
- NOTE 3560
3. UK and Ireland
Regulation: Media Act 2024 — Ofcom oversight of major on-demand services (Tier 1 standards code), PSB prominence on connected TVs and platforms; licence-fee settlement and BBC Charter review for 2027 (verify status).
- NOTE 3561
3. UK and Ireland
Questions: what are the effective dates for Tier 1 VOD rules; which services Ofcom designated; how do UK age ratings on streaming (BBFC-ratings partnership with Netflix and others) appear in metadata?
- NOTE 3562
4. Canada
Services: Crave (Bell Media; merged with Starz Canada; ads tier; verify prices), CBC Gem (ad-free premium tier; verify), Global TV app / STACKTV (Corus; Corus financial distress 2025; verify status), CTV app, Citytv+ (Rogers, sold via Prime Video Channels), Tou.tv and ICI TOU.TV EXTRA (Radio-Canada), Club illico (Vidéotron), Crave's HBO output deal, Noovo.
- NOTE 3563
4. Canada
Regulation: Online Streaming Act (Bill C-11, royal assent Apr 27, 2023); CRTC decision requiring online undertakings with Canadian revenues over C$25 million to contribute 5% of Canadian revenues (June 2024; verify); Federal Court of Appeal challenges by streamers; U.S. trade pressure in 2025 and any suspension or changes (verify). Also CanCon certification (CAVCO/CRTC points) and the CRTC's modernized definition of Canadian program (2025; verify).
- NOTE 3564
4. Canada
Questions: which obligations are in force as of research date; do any services show Canadian content badges; how does Quebec French-language availability differ?
- NOTE 3565
5. Australia and New Zealand
Australia: Stan (Nine), Binge and Kayo and Foxtel Now (Foxtel, acquired by DAZN 2025; verify), ABC iview (login required from 2023), SBS On Demand, 9Now, 7plus, 10 (Paramount; 10 Play renamed; verify), Hayu, Paramount+ AU, BritBox AU (verify status).
- NOTE 3566
5. Australia and New Zealand
New Zealand: TVNZ+, ThreeNow (Warner Bros. Discovery sold Three to Sky NZ 2025; verify), Neon (Sky NZ), Sky Go, Māori+.
- NOTE 3567
5. Australia and New Zealand
Regulation: Australian Government's streaming local-content investment obligation (legislation introduced/passed 2025 requiring large streaming services to invest a share of Australian revenue in local content; verify percentage and status); prominence framework for free-to-air apps on smart TVs (verify); Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act self-classification for streaming.
- NOTE 3568
6.1 Western Europe
France: Canal+ (group listed in London after Vivendi split, Dec 2024; MultiChoice acquisition 2025; verify), france.tv (replaced France TV app; verify), TF1+ (launched Jan 2024), M6+ (replaced 6play, May 2024), Arte.tv, OCS (acquired by Canal+; verify), Salto (shut down 2023). Chronology des médias windowing rules (verify current window for SVOD).
- NOTE 3569
6.1 Western Europe
Germany/Austria/Switzerland: ARD Mediathek, ZDF app (verify ZDFmediathek rename), Joyn (ProSiebenSat.1; MFE takeover 2025; verify), RTL+ (RTL Group), WOW (Sky Deutschland; Sky Deutschland sale to RTL 2025; verify), MagentaTV, ORF ON, Play Suisse.
- NOTE 3570
6.1 Western Europe
Benelux: NPO Start/NPO Plus, Videoland (RTL Nederland; RTL NL sale to DPG Media; verify), Streamz (Belgium; DPG/Telenet), VRT MAX, RTBF Auvio, GoPlay.
- NOTE 3571
6.1 Western Europe
Italy: RaiPlay, Mediaset Infinity, NOW Italia, TIMVISION, Paramount+ IT.
- NOTE 3572
6.1 Western Europe
Spain/Portugal: Movistar Plus+, Atresplayer, Mitele/Mediaset Infinity ES, RTVE Play, Filmin, Flow, SkyShowtime, RTP Play, OPTO (SIC).
- NOTE 3573
6.2 Nordics
Viaplay (restructuring 2023–2024; exited several markets; Canal+ stake; verify), SVT Play, NRK TV, DR TV, Yle Areena, RÚV, TV 2 Play (Denmark and Norway are separate companies; verify), MAX Nordics, SkyShowtime.
- NOTE 3574
6.3 Central and Eastern Europe
Poland: Player.pl (TVN, part of WBD; verify disposition in WBD sale), Polsat Box Go, TVP VOD, CDA Premium. Czech/Slovakia: Voyo, iVysílání (ČT). Hungary: RTL+ HU. Romania: Voyo RO, Antena Play. Balkans: Voyo, Oneplay (merged; verify). Baltics: Go3. Ukraine: Kyivstar, MEGOGO. Turkey: TOD (beIN), BluTV (merged into HBO Max Turkey; verify), Exxen, Gain, tabii (TRT), puhutv.
- NOTE 3575
6.3 Central and Eastern Europe
Russia: Kinopoisk, Okko, Wink, KION, Premier — record Western services' exits in 2022 and note sanctions context; availability data should flag markets where U.S. services do not operate.
- NOTE 3576
6.4 EU regulation
AVMSD 2018/1808: at least 30% European works share in on-demand catalogs and prominence (Art. 13(1)); member-state investment obligations on foreign-targeting services (Art. 13(2)). Produce a table per member state: investment rate and scope, e.g., France (20–25% of French revenue under SMAD decree; verify), Italy (tiered rates; verify), Spain (5%; verify), Germany (FFG levy ~2.5–3%; revised film-funding law 2025; verify), Denmark (cultural contribution 2%+; verify), Netherlands (5% for large services, 2025; verify), Belgium (Flanders and Wallonia differ; verify), Croatia, Czechia, Portugal, Poland, Greece.
- NOTE 3577
6.4 EU regulation
Questions: how is the 30% quota measured (titles vs. hours); do services display "European works" prominence; what did the Commission's AVMSD review (2026) propose (verify)?
- NOTE 3578
6.4 EU regulation
Also: European Media Freedom Act (applied Aug 2025), Digital Services Act, and geo-blocking regulation exemption for audiovisual content and portability regulation (EU 2017/1128) allowing subscribers to access home catalog while temporarily abroad in the EU. Model "portability" as a distinct availability nuance.
- NOTE 3579
7. India and South Asia
India: JioHotstar (JioStar, Reliance–Disney merger closed Nov 2024; JioCinema and Disney+ Hotstar merged Feb 2025; verify subscriber claims), Netflix India (mobile plan pricing), Prime Video India (Prime Lite), SonyLIV, ZEE5, Aha (Telugu/Tamil), Sun NXT, MX Player (acquired by Amazon, merged into Amazon MX Player; verify), ALTT (verify status), Hoichoi (Bengali), ShemarooMe, Waves (Prasar Bharati, 2024), Chaupal (Punjabi). Telecom bundles (Jio, Airtel Xstream Play) drive distribution.
- NOTE 3580
7. India and South Asia
Regulation: IT Rules 2021 Digital Media Ethics Code (self-classification U/A 7+, 13+, 16+, A); draft Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill (verify status); obscenity takedown orders against small OTT apps (2024–2025; verify).
- NOTE 3581
7. India and South Asia
Pakistan (Tapmad, ARY ZAP), Bangladesh (Chorki, Bongo, Hoichoi), Sri Lanka, Nepal: record top local services and licensing to Netflix/YouTube.
- NOTE 3582
8. East Asia
South Korea: TVING (CJ ENM; merged with Wavve, approved 2025; verify closing), Wavve (SK Telecom and broadcasters), Coupang Play, Watcha (financial trouble; verify), Netflix Korea, Disney+ Korea. Questions: weekly broadcast simulcasts vs. platform exclusives; Korea Media Rating Board ratings for streaming.
- NOTE 3583
8. East Asia
Japan: U-Next (merged with Paravi 2023), Hulu Japan (Nippon TV), ABEMA (CyberAgent/TV Asahi), TVer (free catch-up from commercial broadcasters), NHK+ (NHK ONE app 2025; verify), DMM TV, Lemino (NTT Docomo), FOD (Fuji TV), Telasa, d Anime Store, Netflix Japan, Prime Video Japan. Anime simulcast windows and production committee rights explain why anime appears on many services at once.
- NOTE 3584
8. East Asia
China: iQIYI, Tencent Video, Youku (Alibaba), Mango TV, Bilibili, Migu Video. Regulation: NRTA approval, drama episode-length rules, and "micro-short drama" oversight (verify 2024–2025 rules). International arms: iQIYI International, WeTV, Youku International.
- NOTE 3585
8. East Asia
Taiwan and Hong Kong: myVideo, friDay Video, LINE TV (shut down in Taiwan 2023; verify), Catchplay+, myTV SUPER, Now E, Viu.
- NOTE 3586
9. Southeast Asia
Viu (PCCW), Vidio (Emtek, Indonesia), iQIYI and WeTV regional, Netflix/Disney+ Hotstar regional (Disney+ Hotstar exits in parts of SEA; verify), HBO GO (Asia) replaced by HBO Max launches (2024; verify), Astro GO/sooka (Malaysia), iWantTFC (Philippines; ABS-CBN franchise loss 2020), Viu Philippines, TrueID (Thailand), VieON and FPT Play (Vietnam), meWATCH (Mediacorp, Singapore), Catchplay+.
- NOTE 3587
9. Southeast Asia
Questions: telco zero-rating and bundles (Globe, Telkomsel, AIS); local censorship and removal cases (e.g., Vietnam requests over maps showing nine-dash line; verify titles); prices in local currency.
- NOTE 3588
10. Middle East and North Africa
Shahid (MBC Group; Shahid VIP tiers), OSN+ (OSN+–Anghami combination, 2024; verify), STARZPLAY / Starzplay Arabia (verify rebrand), TOD (beIN), Watch iT (Egypt), Yango Play, Netflix MENA, Disney+ MENA (launched June 2022), Prime Video MENA.
- NOTE 3589
10. Middle East and North Africa
Ramadan season as a release-calendar event: most Arabic drama premieres in Ramadan; record annual counts.
- NOTE 3590
10. Middle East and North Africa
Regulation and removals: GCC regulators' requests to Netflix over content (2022 statement; verify), Saudi GCAM classification, UAE Media Council rules.
- NOTE 3591
11. Sub-Saharan Africa
Showmax (MultiChoice–Comcast JV relaunched Feb 2024; Canal+ acquired MultiChoice 2025; reports of Showmax shutdown or restructuring 2026 — verify status carefully), DStv Stream, Netflix Africa (Netflix scaled back Nigerian originals 2025; verify), Prime Video Africa (reduced local originals 2024; verify), Canal+ Afrique and myCANAL, StarTimes ON, Viusasa (Kenya), Iroko (verify status), YouTube as a major Nollywood channel.
- NOTE 3592
11. Sub-Saharan Africa
Questions: mobile-first pricing, data-bundle partnerships, payment methods (mobile money), and which Nollywood/South African series are exclusive to which services.
- NOTE 3593
12. Latin America
Globoplay (Grupo Globo, Brazil), ViX (TelevisaUnivision; free and premium), Claro video (América Movil), Max/HBO Max LatAm, Paramount+ LatAm, Disney+ (Star+ merged into Disney+ June 2024), Prime Video, Netflix, Pluto TV Latino, Mercado Play (Mercado Libre free AVOD, 2023), Blim (verify), Movistar TV, DirecTV GO (DGO; Sky Brasil), Canal Uno, Flow (Argentina), Telecine (verify status).
- NOTE 3594
12. Latin America
Regulation: Brazil's proposed VOD Condecine levy and quota bill (PL 2331; verify status), Argentina's digital services taxes, Mexico VAT on digital services (2020), Colombia VAT.
- NOTE 3595
12. Latin America
Telenovela and super-series windowing: broadcast first, streaming next day; record by title.
- NOTE 3596
13. Regional pricing and currency
Build a comparison table for the Netflix Standard (or nearest) plan, Disney+ Standard, Prime Video, HBO Max, and top local service across 40 countries: local price, tax treatment, USD equivalent, date, and price per hour of local-language content if data exists.
- NOTE 3597
13. Regional pricing and currency
Record regional price cuts (e.g., Netflix cuts in 30+ countries in 2023; verify) and hikes (Netflix increases in Argentina tied to inflation; Turkey) and mobile-only plans (India, Indonesia, Philippines, Kenya; verify current markets).
- NOTE 3598
13. Regional pricing and currency
Record billing through third parties (telco billing, app stores) and differing prices through Apple/Google stores.
- NOTE 3599
14. International availability record schema additions
territory (ISO 3166-1 alpha-2; add sub-national where relevant, e.g., Quebec French track availability), platformid, planid or plantier, offertype (subscription, freewithads, freewithlogin, catchupwindow, rent, buy, linearfast, telcobundle), windowstart, windowend, catchupdays (for PSB players), licencefeerequired (bool), audiolanguages[] (BCP 47), subtitlelanguages[] (BCP 47), audiodescriptionlanguages[], sdhlanguages[], seasonsavailable[], episodesavailablecount, localtitle, localrating (system, value, descriptors), portabilityeligible (EU), georestrictionnote, source (licensed feed, official page, contributor report), verifiedby, lastverifiedat, confidence.
- NOTE 3600
14. International availability record schema additions
Regulatory record: jurisdiction, instrument name, citation, obligationtype (catalogquota, investment, levy, prominence, classification, registration), threshold, rate, inforcedate, status (proposed, enacted, suspended, challenged), regulator, source.
- NOTE 3601
15. Timeline 2019 – 2026
Global launches by country: Disney+ Europe (Mar 2020), Disney+ Hotstar (Apr 2020), Disney+ LatAm (Nov 2020), Star+ (Aug 2021) and merger (2024), SkyShowtime (2022–2023), Paramount+ UK/Ireland (June 2022), HBO Max Europe waves.
- NOTE 3602
15. Timeline 2019 – 2026
Exits and shutdowns: Western services leaving Russia (2022); Salto (2023); Viaplay market exits; BritBox UK merger into ITVX; Showmax changes; LINE TV Taiwan.
- NOTE 3603
15. Timeline 2019 – 2026
Mergers: Reliance–Disney (JioStar), TVING–Wavve, Canal+–MultiChoice, DAZN–Foxtel, RTL–Sky Deutschland, MFE–ProSiebenSat.1, DPG–RTL Nederland (verify each).
- NOTE 3604
15. Timeline 2019 – 2026
Regulation: AVMSD transposition dates by member state; Canada Online Streaming Act and CRTC decisions; UK Media Act 2024 milestones; Australian local-content obligation; India IT Rules.
- NOTE 3605
15. Timeline 2019 – 2026
Price-change dates for top global services by country.
- NOTE 3606
16. Deliverables for Part 02
International platform directory: at least 250 records across at least 60 countries with owner, status, and last-verified date.
- NOTE 3607
16. Deliverables for Part 02
Country plan-and-price tables for the 25 largest markets (at least 1,000 plan rows) in local currency with tax flags.
- NOTE 3608
16. Deliverables for Part 02
Public-broadcaster player table: at least 50 players with funding model, catch-up windows, login/licence requirements, and geo-restriction.
- NOTE 3609
16. Deliverables for Part 02
Regulatory database: at least 40 instruments with obligations, rates, and status.
- NOTE 3610
16. Deliverables for Part 02
Split-rights case file: at least 30 shows with territory-by-territory platform maps.
- NOTE 3611
16. Deliverables for Part 02
Dub/subtitle availability sample: at least 100 titles across 20 countries.
- NOTE 3612
16. Deliverables for Part 02
Merger, rename, and shutdown timeline: at least 200 dated events.
- NOTE 3613
16. Deliverables for Part 02
Glossary: at least 50 terms (catch-up window, output deal, AVMSD, European works, prominence, CanCon, portability, simulcast, production committee, telco bundle).
- NOTE 3614
16. Deliverables for Part 02
Source list in original languages with translated titles, URLs, and access dates.
- NOTE 3615
Research standards
State the research date and per-record access dates; re-verify international prices older than 90 days.
- NOTE 3616
Research standards
Prefer local-language official sources and regulators over English trade summaries; confirm translated names with the original.
- NOTE 3617
Research standards
Keep local-currency prices as source values; conversions are derived and dated.
- NOTE 3618
Research standards
Mark laws as proposed, enacted, in force, suspended, or under challenge, and flag where a lawyer should review how an obligation applies.
- NOTE 3619
Research standards
Distinguish announced launches and mergers from completed ones; many deals listed here were pending or under regulatory review.
- NOTE 3620
Research standards
Never observe or document foreign catalogs through geo-block evasion; use licensed data and in-country contributors.
- NOTE 3621
Research standards
Record dub and subtitle availability per title per country, not per service.