Kapil Sharma Says His Netflix Show Streams In 192 Countries. Let's Find Out Which Nations Can’t Watch 'Great Indian Kapil Show'
Kapil Sharma would often address his “international fans” and announce that ‘The Great Indian Kapil Show’ is now streaming in 192 countries.
Kapil Sharma's new OTT variety series, ‘The Great Indian Kapil Show’, began streaming on Netflix in March. Needless to say, it soon went on to become one of the most-watched TV series on the platform, garnering millions of views per episode. The debut episode with Ranbir Kapoor, for instance, had 2.4 million viewership hours as per Netflix’s own Global Top 10 list. Of course, the combined popularity of Kapil Sharma and celebrity guests (from the likes of Aamir Khan to Ed Sheeran) adds to the popularity.
As part of a running gag in each episode, Sharma would address his “international fans” and announce that ‘The Great Indian Kapil Show’ is now streaming in 192 countries. Of course, these are the countries that have access to Netflix.
This got us thinking, how many countries aren’t getting Netflix? And perhaps more importantly, why?
How Many Countries Are Getting Netflix?
The United Nations recognises 195 countries in the world, which include 193 member states and two non-member states: Vatican City and the State of Palestine. There are 38 more dependencies or ‘other territories’, including the likes of Hong Kong, French Polynesia, Isle of Man, and others.
Netflix’s own Help Center claims that the OTT service is available in over 190 countries. “Our library of TV shows and movies varies based on the country, and it changes from time to time,” the company said.
It also disclosed that Netflix isn’t available in:
- China
- Crimea
- North Korea
- Russia
- Syria
Now, let’s find out why Netflix isn’t available in the above countries:
Why Is Netflix Not Available In China?
Netflix is not allowed to operate in China as the government continues to tighten its control over foreign influence and its citizens' access to information about their own country.
Why Is Netflix Not Available In Crimea?
Netflix is not available in Crimea due to US sanctions against Russia following the annexation. Additionally, the service would likely generate minimal profit due to the region's low average income and limited interest in Netflix's content offerings.
Why Is Netflix Not Available In North Korea?
North Korea maintains an iron grip on information, enforcing some of the world's most stringent censorship policies and tightly controlling all forms of communication.
Why Is Netflix Not Available In Russia?
Following the invasion of Ukraine, Netflix ceased operations in Russia in March 2022. Attempts to access the platform within Russia now result in an error message or a blank page indicating unavailability. Furthermore, Netflix has halted all projects and acquisitions within the country.
Why Is Netflix Not Available In Syria?
Netflix is inaccessible in Syria due to US sanctions that restrict the provision of American products, software, technology, and services without explicit government authorization. As a US-based company, Netflix is obligated to comply with these sanctions and therefore cannot operate within Syria.
New episodes of ‘The Great Indian Kapil Show’ stream on Netflix every Saturday at 8 pm IST.
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