by Thinus Ferreira
With several countries in various stages of national lockdowns because of the Covid-19 pandemic people across the globe are now signing a petition asking for Netflix and other global streaming services to be made available for free during this period.
Millions of people forming part of TV viewing households and now cloistered at home to try and spread the curb the spread of the Covid-19 novel coronavirus. With growing levels of frustration, cabin fever and boredom setting in, they want something new or else to watch and are now asking for Netflix and other global streaming services to be made available for free during this period.
Whether traditional direct-to-home (DTH) satellite pay-TV services like MultiChoice DStv and StarTimes's StarSat, as well as various subscription video-on demand (SVOD) services like Netflix, Showmax, Disney+ or Apple TV+ are, or should be classified as essential services is debatable, although they do serve two purposes.
In no order of importance, firstly they provide access to information - with programming that include news, current affairs and documentaries, including about Covid-19. Netflix for instance just added a new Covid-19 documentary.
Secondly, TV viewing provides escapism - entertainment content that helps to pass the time. By Thursday afternoon, the petition has reached close to 60 000 signatures that is headlined as: "Make streaming media services free to encourage people to stay at home during a quarantine".
Of course Netflix like other SVOD services are commercial, private businesses.
The petition asks that SVODs become free services for 60 days.
"Many people are turning to their streaming services to alleviate their monotony. The problem with this is that many people cannot afford these membership fees, especially in a time like now when many people's economic livelihood is already strained."
"Therefore, this petition asks that all worldwide streaming services inact a temporary 60-day stoppage of membership charges, as well as per-movie rental fees."
"If people can watch as much as they want, whenever they want, this will help alleviate the stress of home isolation, as well as encourage people to stay home. This is a responsible community health strategy," says the petition that was started by Philip Kolas.
"Many other media markets have done similar ideas. This is an easily manageable path of assistance for these corporations, one specifically which only they can provide."
