why does a release date need a country?

Hi bderoes-

We currently don't support worldwide release date additions, therefore, a specific country selection is required when adding a release date, as to show when a title was released publicly in a particular country.

When a title is released worldwide, our preference is to submit that release date for all the applicable countries. If a title was released on the same date worldwide, you are welcome to add that release date for each applicable country.

For more detailed information, I encourage you to review our following Help Guide. 

Thanks!

I don't know if all 195 countries on this planet have internet access, but no, I won't be adding more than 1 release date item for a new title.

Not having an option for Worldwide release makes the title look like it has only been released in 1 country, when in fact it streams over the internet.

I think technology has changed enough that IMDb should reconsider this decision.

Come to think of it, often times, I simply add a single release date item for the apparent country of origin if it was released onto the Internet and never re-released in any other particular way, and that's only if the presence of such an item is needed to make certain other data corrections like production status or primary title (mnemonic identifier corresponding to the tconst).

Many streaming websites regionally blocked access for distribution contract reasons. That means not being released worldwide.

Also, there's time zone thing. If one country's date is January 1, it may be December 31 of last year or January 2 on another country's date.

That's why listing with a country name is so important. "Worldwide" is sometimes the wrong dates put in.

Medici.tv is based in France, so release dates should be listed with France and dates based on Central European Time or Central European Summer Time.

It also operates Japanese regional website medicitv.jp, if video released on Japanese website, release dates should've listed with Japanese Standard Time.