One of the smallest but very present irritations in a move abroad is wanting our comfort shows but not knowing how to access them or being transferred in the middle of the season of a favorite drama. For families moving with children who need their Bluey or Peppa Pig, not having their favorite screen pals can trigger a meltdown- the last thing stressed assignees need. Luckily the days of having to stuff a suitcase full of tapes and DVDs are long gone. With streaming services, we have media at our fingertips 24/7. In some cases, however, it may look a bit different from what assignees are used to.
When it comes to worldwide services Netflix is the undoubted champion, with almost 300 million subscribers in 190 countries. The U.S. leads the number of subscribers, followed by Brazil, the U.K., and Germany. Amazon Prime is second, with a large global reach due to the retailer’s market dominance in internet sales. The U.K. is home to Mubi, which also has a presence across Europe and into Asia. Some services, however, remain market-restricted; Hulu, for example, remains limited to the U.S. And even if you have an account in your home country, you’ll have to get signed up again in your new home as content libraries vary.
A move can also introduce services and programming you may not have considered. South Africa’s Showmax is the largest African streaming service, and Ibakatv focuses on Nigerian “Nollywood” productions. Viki, while an American company, has found wider success in the Asian drama market and has a presence in Singapore, Korea, and Japan. In India, Hungama offers a wide range of Hindi-language content. Subscribing to a local service will not only help assignees learn what’s current in the local pop culture, but it can also be a fun way to practice new language skills.
Note that in some countries, licensing and censorship will affect what can be seen. In addition to sharing available services, Living Abroad also provides information on censorship laws, if applicable. With Living Abroad, assignees and their families will know how to avoid missing out on the topic of conversation back home while also embracing their new culture through the fun vehicle of local entertainment.
Written by Kate Havas, GMS-T, Content Manager
