Netflix must now follow FPB classification guidelines

Jamie McKane

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Netflix must now follow FPB classification guidelines

The Film and Publication Board (FPB) has announced that it has signed a distribution agreement with Netflix, bringing the international streaming service under its regulatory domain.

"Netflix joins the likes of Showmax, Google, and Apple to become the ninth online distributor to contract with the FPB, ensuring compliance with the Film and Publications Act, and the Classification Guidelines," the FPB said.
 
Disappointing from Netflix in a way, but understandable at the same time really given the growth in the market.
 
As of October 2019, the FPB had a flat fee for online distributors of R795,000 per year to allow them to self-classify content. Such distributors would need to send their own classifiers to the FPB for training first.

so in other words "show us the money and we will let you put your own age restriction classification on your content, which you already would have had anyway"
 
As long as it doesn't impact the release of Netflix content locally, I couldn't care less whether the FPB has another R800k to squander. They're battling for relevance.
 
so in other words "show us the money and we will let you put your own age restriction classification on your content, which you already would have had anyway"

Pretty much, pay us R800k a year to use your existing ESRB ratings from the states, but send us someone so we can train them and they can then ignore everything we've supposedly "taught" them.
 
No, its just protecting poor Multichoice DSTV from sinking.
Will never ever support Telkom or DSTV in my life
 
No, its just protecting poor Multichoice DSTV from sinking.
Will never ever support Telkom or DSTV in my life

I hate to tell you this, but using an ISP in this country you indirectly support Telkom....
 
"“The public can rest assured that the films they view on Netflix will be aligned to South African rating standards,” the FPB said."

Newsflash: The majority of the public don't give a phuk.
 
so in other words "show us the money and we will let you put your own age restriction classification on your content, which you already would have had anyway"

Yes... the FPB has created themselves a nice little cash cow. This year R795K licence fee for Netflix. Next year a million and so forth. Lekker big bonuses for deployed cadres in the FPB.
 
Please explain what is so bad about it?

Sure the 800k or whatever to self rate is stupid and exhobataint, but there is nothing wrong requiring local ratings, many countries have different rating systems. Something that is 16 in France may well be 18+ or Restricted in the US for example.

Not defending them per se, just trying to understand what the issue is.
 
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Making a few educated guesses... This isn't Netflix giving in.

This is its lawyers saying that under the previous version of the FPB Act, they had a leg to stand on in refusing to pay the FPB's ridiculous "licensing fee" for self classification.

With the FPB Act amended, Netflix is not on the same legal ground it was back in 2017 when it said it would not pay.
 
Please explain what is so bad about it?

Sure the 800k or whatever to self rate is stupid and exhobataint, but there is nothing wrong requiring local ratings, many countries have different rating systems. Something that is 16 in France may well be 18+ or Restricted in the US for example.

Not defending them per se, just trying to understand what the issue is.

Really? Youre ok with this ****?

Today Netflix. Tomorrow they wanna police the whole internet (Think of the cadre ca$$$h opportunities to charge large sites to join the FPB!!) . With ANC guidelines mind you. Duh.

Nee wat. Most people don't give a phuk about this bunch of tossers that only want to secure themselves a stinking rich future.
 
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