Ukraine crisis: Netflix, TikTok halt services in Russia
By Abimbola Mohammed
Following other brand owners’ pullback in their services to Russian businesses, Netflix is now suspending its subscription video-on-demand service due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, according to reports.
The suspension will also include stopping movie and TV productions, as well as any content acquisitions in Russia. Reports said it had four Russian-language series in production and post-production.
Netflix also recently refused to carry 20 Russian free-to-air propaganda channels that it was required to host under Russian law, according to Variety. One of the channels is Channel One, which has “close links to the Kremlin,” according to Politico.
In the same vein, TikTok has also said that its user’s platform in Russia has been blocked from posting and viewing videos.
“Given the circumstances on the ground, we have decided to suspend our service in Russia,” TikTok said.
Other entertainment companies also pulled back on Russian business, with virtually all major movie studios halting production including Walt Disney, Warner Bros., Sony, Paramount Pictures and Universal Pictures last week.
Netflix, started up in Russia in 2016 and presently has just one million subscribers in Russia, Overall, Netflix has just over 222 million total paid memberships worldwide.
Netflix had earlier announced that it would suspend all future projects and acquisitions from Russia, joining a growing list of companies that have stopped doing business with the country.
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