James R | On 19, Aug 2013

Every time we talk to people about video on-demand, we always get told the same thing: “Netflix in the UK? It’s not the same asin the US…”

That’s true. In fact, it’s better. At least, it is when it comes to one thing: Breaking Bad.

Since last week, the show’s final episodes have been broadcast in the US on AMC – only to arrive on Netflix UK six or seven hours later. What better way to start a Monday morning than numerically-shaped bacon, coffee and a freshly cooked batch of Mr. White?

But Americans can’t do that. Why? Because Netflix US doesn’t have them.

It has Breaking Bad Season 5, yes. But only the first half of the season. It got those eight episodes 17 days ago. In the UK, we were able to stream Season 5 Part 1 on November 1st… 2012.

Brits 1, Yanks 0.

It’s the same with The Killing Season 3, which is being broadcast (also by AMC) in the US at the moment – and arriving on Netflix UK within 24 hours every Monday. Netflix US users have to make do with Season 1 and 2.
Away from AMC, Netflix UK is again ahead of the US: Dexter has six seasons available to stream for Brits. Americans have none of it.

Meanwhile, in movie land, Michael Haneke’s astounding Amour arrived at the weekend – perfect family viewing for the summer holidays. Is it on Netflix US? No. We even have The Santa Clause in August, far ahead of our Atlantic counterparts – in case that makes your reindeer fly.

You get the idea.

The bottom line? Rights differ from country to country. It works the other way too: sometimes, America has things we don’t. But with Breaking Bad arriving fresh on our screens every week, we can handle waiting for things to travel across the Atlantic. Because in the last 12 months, from The Killing to Orange Is the New Black, it’s clear that Netflix is improving for British users.

Well, except for The Santa Clause.

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