Netflix has hit a snag,Oh Mi as it makes its first steps into China.
The streaming giant's hit original series Bojack Horseman got pulled from iQiyi, China's biggest streaming service, a mere two days after it was first aired, reported Bloomberg.
SEE ALSO: Netflix to 'Girlboss' after just one season: You're firedNetflix was airing it in China via a licensing deal with iQiyi, which has over 500 million monthly users in the country.
iQiyi had only aired three episodes of the show when it was pulled on June 21. A spokesperson from the streaming service told Varietythat "adjustments need to be made to the content," but didn't say when the show would return to the site.
The incident has hit Chinese fans hard. Bojack Horsemanhad already garnered a domestic fanbase, thanks to online streaming (and, ahem, downloads).
On Weibo, China's version of Twitter, Bojack Horsemanmemes abound, largely thanks to the show's eponymous anti-hero who's resounded with China's millennial viewers.
So it's no surprise that Weibo users were pretty miffed that the show was pulled:
"I paid for a membership just to watch Bojackyesterday, and when I went to search today I can't find it. Why? @iQiyi"
"Wanted to pay for a VIP membership at iQiyi to watch Bojack, but when I went to search the show was gone! How could this happen?"
Many also expressed cynicism and anger at Chinese censors:
"The SAPPRFT (China's censorship board) really has nothing better to do -- they want to control everything people see!"
"Oh, by the time you air it, I'd have finished animating the whole thing myself."
Some just went back to blatantly asking for downloads:
"Bojackhas been taken off iQiyi -- the critics are still out for this show, but no one's complaining about Rick and Mortyyet. Quick, PM me for links!"
"Doesn't everyone just download the show? Wait, you can watch it online?"
"Yeah, downloading it is so much safer 😝"
Chinese censors have been mercurial in deciding what it wants to cut, which has made Netflix's entry into the country pretty difficult.
A deal with iQiyi was aimed at reducing the amount of hassle Netflix would have faced trying to break into China alone -- the country's censorship and content policy meant that it had to obtain a government licence and have its original content approved by censors.
But it seems that the licensing deal hasn't been able to stop that.
Netflix's documentaries Making a Murdererand Chef's Table-- released on iQiyi earlier in June -- remain available on the streaming platform. iQiyi also plans to release Mindhunter and the second season of Stranger Things, according to Bloomberg.
The company's senior vice-president told Bloomberg before Bojackwas pulled, that Netflix had to give Chinese censors lead time to approve its content.
"The approval process is a bit long in China," Yang, who was in-charge of the company's licensing agreements with Netflix, said. "[It] takes at least a month."
We reached out to iQiyi, and will update if we hear back.
Topics Netflix
Jumping Off a Cliff: An Interview with Kevin Barry by Jonathan LeeLiterary HalloweenPersuasion by Sadie SteinOpenAI announces $5 million partnership to support local news'Quordle' today: See each 'Quordle' answer and hints for July 16Australia and the UK are protesting violence against women, and I am tired7 meditation and mindfulness apps with free tools for coronavirus anxiety'Command Z' review: Steven Soderbergh's surprise sciPersuasion by Sadie SteinMad Money, and Other News by Sadie SteinRedditors are using John Oliver to give away their coins6 free scanner apps for iPhone and AndroidLiterary HalloweenSnail’s Pace by Sadie SteinHappy Election Day by Sadie SteinHow to watch the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup online for freeWeapons of Mass Instruction by Sadie SteinThe Great Columbia Book Slide of 1934 by Sadie SteinStranger than Fiction: An Interview with Tom Bissell by Hope ReeseHow to take a mindful bath Playing 'Breath of the Wild' wrong is my social distancing escape Uber's CEO reportedly sent out rules for sex between employees before a 2013 party TLC confirms that their zero tolerance policy for scrubs remains firm 'The Twilight Zone' Season 2 brings twists with a deep cut throwback 'Lunar Loo' challenge asks people to help astronauts poop on the Moon A guide to the James Comey hearing, for normals Innocent pup literally eats girl's physics homework Verizon decides Facebook doesn't need its ad money after all Remember Microsoft Stores? Well, they're closed forever now. Lit AF peacock gets away with breaking $500 worth of liquor Protests, pandemic have refocused advocates fighting for LGBTQ rights Watch Rihanna visit schools in Malawi to advocate for better education for students Comey got in a lot of a jabs during the biggest hearing of 2017 What's the best TV friend group? James Comey finally lets his emo side show during his testimony Facebook will warn you when you share old news How to recognize if you're being racially gaslighted Devin Nunes can't sue Twitter over a parody 12 free and printable Black Lives Matter posters from Black artists The online lesson plan marketplace boomed when the pandemic hit
2.3665s , 10158.96875 kb
Copyright © 2025 Powered by 【Oh Mi】,Co-creation Information Network