Why Does AXN Not Want People to Watch The Amazing Race Asia 5?

So, this actually isn’t a recap of Episode 4 of The Amazing Race Asia 5. And that’s because I’m not sure I’ll be able to watch it.

First, let me take the time to say this:
Thank you The Amazing Race Vietnam and VTV! Thank you The Amazing Race China and Shenzhen TV and Sohu! Thank you, sort of, The Amazing Race Philippines and TV5.

Posting full episodes on your official websites and/or YouTube (or Sohu) channels and making them available, without geographic restrictions, worldwide is truly amazing. And millions of fans and viewers around the world are very grateful.

CBS and CTV make episodes of their own Amazing Race franchises available to people in the United States and Canada, respectively. Though geoblocked, at the very least, fans in those specific countries can catch up on their show if they needed to.

Which brings us to The Amazing Race Asia and AXN.

It was a very exciting surprise when AXN announced The Amazing Race Asia would be resurrected for a 5th season after a long six year absence. Fans in Asia and beyond were looking forward to the return of the series, especially with The Amazing Race US on its own indefinite hiatus.

But that excitement has pretty much been stomped on by AXN’s inexplicable decision not to post full episodes of The Amazing Race Asia on their own website. Worse even, posting the season’s first two episodes only and then deciding not to post any more.

But why?

Here’s a few of the responses from the official Amazing Race Asia Facebook page:

And Allan Wu himself:

Including in reply to season 4 winner Richard Herrera:

If you look on their official Facebook page, YouTube channel, on the show’s and Allan Wu’s Instagram and on Twitter, there are dozens, hundreds (and more) people asking why Episode 3 had not been posted to the official website like the first two episodes had. And the only response is “Watch on Thursday and/or the encores only on AXN. Bye!”

Okay. A few problems with that. Let’s forget all the international Amazing Race fans outside of AXN Asia’s availability.

According to a news report/press release, the premiere of The Amazing Race Asia 5 was the most watched English-language original program ever to air in Asia. Or something. Great! And that was only people watching on TV. But then there were many more who watched the show for the first time on AXN’s official website.

The fact is not all Amazing Race fans or potential viewers in Asia have access to AXN. It is a pay-TV, cable/satellite channel. Meaning, it’s not free. It’s only available on cable or satellite TV packages in which people pay extra to access more channels, AXN included.

But more people have access to the internet. And more people have access to AXN’s official website than they have access to the AXN cable channel.

I mean, it’s pretty crazy that one of the season’s strongest teams (Tom & Anita) can’t even watch the show in their home country Thailand. Here’s some of Tom’s tweets:

So what possible reason would AXN have to basically prevent people from watching their own show?

Let’s take a look at some of those reasons.

Loss of traditional TV viewers. Television networks around the world continue to struggle with losing traditional television viewers to online streaming and other internet-based providers. The fact is, traditional television is still where most of the ad money is.

That doesn’t mean online sources aren’t profitable. Especially when networks and production companies are making content available through official channels as opposed to regular people recording and uploading their content to video sites and torrents.

So what’s the argument against AXN posting full episodes of The Amazing Race Asia on their official website? Nothing really. For one, not everyone is going to be at home to watch on AXN on TV on Thursday nights or any of the encore airings over the weekend. So why not make it available for those people?

Maybe a person who regularly watches on TV misses it one week. And if they haven’t seen that episode, they may not be inclined to continue watching the rest of the season.

But if it’s all about money. Well, if you don’t know how to monetize your official network website… what are you doing with your life?

I mean, I highly doubt people at Sony… Sony! don’t know how to make money. Come on now.

They can still show ads, whether the video is being hosted on AXN-Asia.com or YouTube. Simple. And if they don’t want people outside of AXN Asia countries to watch the show (which is also inexplicable), then they can block them. Just like they did with the episodes they did post to their official website.

AXN doesn’t have the rights to put the episodes online. Apparently, there’s a “rights issue” that prevents AXN from putting them online.

Rights? You OWN the show. It’s being produced by Bertram Van Munster’s own production company. Who’s preventing AXN from posting episodes of AXN’s show on AXN’s official website?

It’s not like anyone else owns The Amazing Race Asia since it doesn’t air anywhere else outside of AXN Asia countries. For example, I’d assume CBS or CTV could care less about The Amazing Race Asia being made available to people in the United States or anywhere else, for that matter.

If a local Asian network has rights to the show in their country, then the episode on AXN’s official website can be blocked in that country. It’s pretty simple. Especially for a network owned by Sony. I think Sony knows a thing or two about technology.

There’s really no downside to posting full episodes to AXN’s official website. If anything, there’s plenty of upside.

First of all, Wonderful Indonesia (Indonesia’s tourism board) is the main sponsor of the show. And likely one of the main reasons The Amazing Race Asia is back from the dead. There were articles about the introductory press conference that had Indonesia’s tourism minister saying they hoped The Amazing Race Asia would help attract foreign tourists to the country.

Well, Indonesia will certainly have a hard time attracting those potential foreign tourists when their expensive commercial (The Amazing Race Asia) isn’t even available for those people to watch and see.

The Amazing Race Asia is also an entertainment program for entertainment channel AXN and its production companies. And it’s a program that’s being produced to make a profit. But there won’t be any profit if no one is watching.

In addition to the built-in audience, the show must bring in even more new viewers. To bring in new viewers, there need to be people talking about the show. And to get people talking about the show on social media, they need to actually watch the show. And to watch the show, it needs to be made accessible to the widest audience possible.

And we’re back to the main point of this recap rant.

Much of what I wrote in this excellent (if I do say so myself and to toot my own horn) article about The Amazing Race Philippines moving forward applies to The Amazing Race Asia 5.

Being inaccessible to your audience and preventing your audience from watching your show is a pretty easy and quick way to toss the show back in a grave again.

But if that’s the ultimate goal for The Amazing Race Asia, they’ve certainly set themselves on the right path.

And that’s a shame when the actual content, The Amazing Race Asia 5, has been very good. Too bad only a few people will get to see it.

Related posts ..

Fan Casting a GMA Network Filipino Adaptation of Korean Drama “Penthouse”

Shows I’m Looking Forward to From GMMTV2024 UP&ABOVE PART2

Commentary: Filipino Schadenfreude, Network War Culture and The End of “Tahanang Pinakamasaya”

Commentary: Eat Bulaga/Tahanang Pinakamasaya – NOW, Can Everyone Move On?

178 thoughts on “Why Does AXN Not Want People to Watch The Amazing Race Asia 5?”

  1. So sad to hear about this, I was thinking it was Googling skills that are no longer up to par. Used to follow TARA religiously til I moved to another country. That being said, do you know of any *not-so-legal* ways of watching S5 online?

    Reply

      8. Could I please have the link too! And is there any way to download the episodes to our computer to re-watch later? I’ve been searching for a torrent but there isn’t one…. 🙁

        Reply

      10. Can you (or anyone) email me a link i would be sooo grateful.
        I’m a huge TAR-fan and been searching like crazy to find the TARA 5 Finale.

        Reply

      11. Could I get a link as well? Been looking all over, beginning to doubt my Google-fu skills. Did find it on Dailymotion, but the picture and sound are so bad, it’s unwatchable.

        Reply
  2. Pingback: The Amazing Race Asia 5 Season Wrap-up | dryedmangoez

  10. Hi! Please email me the link for the Amazing Race Asia Season 5. Can’t find the full episodes anywhere from episode 2 onwards. Thanks

    Reply

  15. I would like the link as well..Have been searching since last year and have not been able to find a link. Thanks in advance

    Reply

  19. Could you send me the link for The Amazing Race Asia Season5 please? Is it for watching online only or is it for download? Thanks very much in advance.

    Reply

      1. Hey Dryedmangoez, I am receiving emails from your blog but I don’t see the link to The Amazing Race Asia season 5, Episode 5 or later. Could you please send the link again because I love all versions of the Amazing Race from all over the world!

        Reply

  34. Can I get a link to Season 5 as well please? I enjoyed watching the first 4 seasons many years ago. Thanks for your help, much appreciated.

    Reply

  35. I know it’s been a while, but if you still have the links could you please send it to me? My family has been waiting two years to finish watching this excellent season

    Reply

  36. Do you still have the links to this season! I would appreciate it soo much if you could send me a link/copy.

    Reply

  38. Hello, i missed watching this season but could only find up to episode 2. do you still have the links to the season? appreciate if you could send them over to me. thank you!

    Reply

  39. hi, am trying again as i wasn’t sure if the first comment went through. if you still have the links, would appreciate a lot if you could send me a copy. thank you so much for your help!

    Reply

      1. Thank you so much!! I have been looking everywhere for ep 6-10 with no luck…until you helped me 🙂 also you have an awesome blog

        Reply

      1. Thanks very much, ALL links work.

        TARA is awesome…..
        I have season 1 to 4 if you want..
        Cheers Chris

        Reply

          1. I am uploading Asia season 1 – 4 to my mega.nz account for you,

            the link below will get you to them.
            It will take a few days for me to upload them all but you can download as they come in.

            https://mega.nz/C!yqxiTQ7T

            I have all china rush also if u want them later.
            Cheers
            Chris

            Reply

              1. Hi mate, season 1-4 is now uploaded, let me know when you have downloaded them so I can clear them out of my mega drive.
                enjoy
                Chris

                Reply

                    1. Thanks! I see them now. I’ve copied them over to my “Cloud Drive”, but haven’t downloaded them yet. But I assume since I’ve already copied them over, that means you can clear them out of your drive now?

  62. I’m probably too late, but is there’s any chance you can send me the link? Never had the chance to watch Season 5. Thanks

    Reply

      1. It’s been impossible to find Season 5 of The Amazing Race Asia. Please share your link with me? Thanks much! (rekrap@gmail.com)

        Reply
  69. Pingback: essay

Share your thoughts!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Back to top